Essa spends most of his time at the beach. Sounds like a pretty good life, doesn't it? A lot of British 19-year olds would probably love to spend endless days on a Gambian beach!
But for Essa, it's not really a choice, it's a necessity. He walks the tourist beaches all day long during the holiday season in baking temperatures, trying to sell the trinkets his grandfather taught him to make. He has to watch out for the local police who would move him on for "bothering" tourists.
Essa was forced to leave school at the age of 12 when his father could no longer pay his school fees. As his father is too sick to work, Essa has the responsibility to earn whatever he can to support his entire family. He is the sole income-earner in his family. If he does not sell his wares, his family does not eat.
It's too late for Essa to go back to school to complete his education, but HELPING sponsors are keeping other young people in education so their opportunities in life are improved.
The temperature in Banjul today reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36C). Spare a thought for Essa and the many others like him who have little choice but to walk the beaches all day long, trying to sell souvenirs to tourists.
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