Salimatou "Salima" Fatty is a human rights activist who focuses on quality education and gender equality. She is the founder of the Salimatou Foundation for Education (SaFE), an organization  committed to ensuring access to quality education with gender equality and equity regardless of locality, origin, culture, religion or socioeconomic status. Through SaFE's "Teen's Mentorship Program," Salima mentored teenagers on self-esteem, self-actualization, personal leadership and career development. The program positively impacted many teenagers who are now well-skilled young stars in personal businesses and professional work. Salima holds a degree in law from the University of Gambia and a degree in gender and development at the Management Development Institute. She is a youth leader of the Community of Democracy in Poland, and she also served on the Youth Advisory Board of the United Nations Girls' Education Imitative. She is an alumnus of the African Union International Centre for Girls and Women's Education Initiative (AU/CIEFA) and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI RLC). Salima received many honors and nominations for her work in advocacy: Leading Young Peace-Builder in 2019 by the European Commission, 100 Most Influential Young Africans in 2017, Advocate of the Year nomination for the African Youth Award in 2016, Girl of the Month in 2016 by the Girls Pride Circle, and Peace Ambassador at One Young World. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Digital Space for Rural Youth (DaSRY)

The project provided information on educational social media usage to rural students. Sixty students participated in sessions about media literacy and were equipped with skills to use as important components of their career paths.

"I have learned knowledge that was so close yet unutilized. I am going to give back for I am equipped." - Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience

Salimatou participated in the IVLP Project Education in the Digital Age, organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning, in partnership with Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City, World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, Global Ties Kalamazoo, San Diego Diplomacy Council and WorldOrlando.

Salimatou's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "When I had the opportunity to attend an IVLP in 2021, I was privileged to learn about the U.S. education system administration and the right and privilege of education to various nations."

U.S. Communities Visted Virtually

San Diego, CA; Washington, DC;  Orlando, FL; Kalamazoo, MI; Manchester, NH; New York City, NY; Salt Lake City, UT

"It amazed me how the [IVLP] program did not limit our focus to education in a digital age but went beyond to teach us about pressing global issues such as migration and mental health." - Salimatou Fatty

Country: The Gambia

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