Many young people never finish their education, not for lack of ability, but for lack of one thing: money, distance, or a family that needed them home instead. Edrisa Janko was one of them.
He dropped out of school in Grade Nine after his father died, and spent five years watching his classmates move forward while he stayed behind.Then he joined Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program, first as a participant, later as a Community Facilitator, teaching neighbors about rights, dignity, and the power of education. But the lessons he delivered to others began working on him too. Every session he taught, he was also learning: that his circumstances did not have to determine his future.
That realization pushed him back to school after five years away. Scholarships and mentors carried him through secondary school, teacher training, and finally law school in Rwanda.On July 29, he took the oath as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of The Gambia. Today, he serves as Tostan’s Human Resources Officer, using his legal training to protect staff rights in the organization that once believed in him.
This is his story, in his own words.
There are moments in life that quietly change everything. For me, that moment did not happen in a courtroom. It happened in a village classroom.
When I lost my father at the age of eleven, my world changed overnight. I was in Grade Seven, and my mother, who lives with a disability, struggled to keep our family afloat. We fought to keep me in school, but by Grade Nine, the burden had become too heavy. There was no money for fees, uniforms, or books. I dropped out.
For five years, I watched life move on while my dreams stood still
In my community, many believed that once a child dropped out of school, that chapter of life had ended. I tried to accept that reality. I worked, survived, and carried the silent pain of seeing my classmates continue their education while I remained behind. Deep inside, I still dreamed of returning to school, but I could not see a path.
Then Tostan entered my life
I first joined Tostan as a participant in its Community Empowerment Program. Later, I became a Community Facilitator. At the time, I thought I was simply helping communities learn. I never imagined that I was the one who would be transformed.
Every session challenged me to think differently. We spoke about human rights, dignity, equality, responsibilities, and the power of education. For the first time, I understood that education was not merely about earning certificates. It was about unlocking human potential, finding your voice, and believing that your circumstances do not have to determine your future.
Those lessons did more than educate me; they awakened me
Tostan planted a seed of hope that had long been buried beneath years of disappointment. It made me ask myself a question that changed my life:
“If I encourage others to believe in their future, why shouldn’t I believe in mine?”
That question became my turning point
I made the difficult decision to return to school after five long years away from the classroom. It was not easy. I was older than all of my classmates. I had forgotten much of what I had learned. I had no financial security. But I had something far more powerful than fear; I had purpose.
With determination, I resumed my education. Later, the Bansang Educational Appeal supported me throughout my senior secondary education. After graduating with excellent results, financial realities led me to pursue Higher Teachers’ Certificate at Gambia College instead of university.
Even then, my dream did not die
At another crucial moment, a remarkable man, Bram Kloos, believed in me and sponsored my university education. His generosity carried me through university and eventually to Rwanda, where I pursued my professional legal training.
Every stage of my journey was built upon people who believed that education could change a life
This month, I was formally enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of The Gambia, after my initial admission as Barrister and Solicitor at Supreme Court. Standing before the Court to take that oath was overwhelming. I remembered the frightened teenager who had believed his education had ended forever. I remembered the five years outside the classroom. I remembered every setback, every disappointment, and every person who refused to let me give up.
Today, I proudly serve as the Human Resources Officer at Tostan, the very organization that helped me rediscover my dream. My legal training now strengthens the work we do to protect labour rights, uphold fairness, and ensure accountability within the organization that first taught me the value of human dignity.
Looking back, I realize that Tostan did much more than teach me lessons. It restored my confidence. It gave me hope when I had almost none. It helped me understand that education is one of the greatest forms of empowerment because it changes not only what you know, but also what you believe is possible.
My story is proof that a classroom like Tostan CEP can change a destiny
To Tostan, thank you for seeing potential where others saw limitations. Thank you for teaching me that every human being deserves dignity, opportunity, and the chance to learn. Thank you for reminding me that education is not simply the path to employment; it is the path to freedom.
From a village classroom of Tostan’s CEP to the courtroom of the Supreme Court, this journey belongs to everyone who believed in me including Tostan.
And it all began with one lesson that changed my life, Tostan’s CEP.
May keep Tostan moving