Further thanks to our sponsors!

T minus 5 days. Thank you to our recent sponsors:

In the Gambia, Trust Bank has generously supported the team's efforts to get to Washington. Outside the Gambia, the team would like to thank Rebecca Aleem, Rima Berns-McGown, Adam Lazier, Mark Overton, Francis Legault-Mayrand, Pierre-Alexandre Cardinal, Kathleen Davis, Maryse Uriodain, Lindsay Stidwill, Catherine Blanchard, Mary Kirton, John Kirton, Madeline Koch, France Morrissette, Clare Crummey, Mark Jewett, PA Henri, Samantha Newton, Allison Sephton, Femke Janson, Renata Colwell, John Michael Picone, Leanne Rasmussen, A J Hilderman, Michael Marin, Howard Yeung, Alexander McKinnon, Jeremy Johnson, and all the attendees of the Magdalene College LLM/PhD dinner held on March 5.

Optimism and opportunities

Things are looking good for these five Gambian students trying to compete in the Jessup mooting competition in Washington.

Yesterday, after their interviews at the US Embassy, the students were told that they would all be getting their visas.

Last night in Cambridge, PA attended a LLM/PhD dinner at Magdalene College. The organizer generously allowed his dinner to be used as a fundraising opportunity. PA told the guests about the team and then collected contributions. A few pounds add up, and all together they raised $700. As PA said, not bad for a Monday night.

Thanks to everyone who donated last night. Special thanks to Alexander McKinnon and Jeremy Johnson for their generosity. And a shout out to PA who has already supported this team in so many ways. Your efforts will change the lives of these students.

PA talking up the team

Notes from the demonstration moot

The 2012 UTG Jessup team held a demonstration moot last Friday, February 24. The point was to publicize our work, draw attention to mooting, raise funds in The Gambia, and practice our arguments.

We had four distinguished judges: Johannes Buabeng-Baidoo, visiting lecturer from the University of Pretoria; Hannah Edmonds, visiting lecturer from Bristol University; Pierre-Alexandre Henri, LLM candidate from Cambridge; and Gaye Sowe, adjunct professor and senior legal officer at the Institute for Human Rights and Development.

The students were confident, persuasive, and poised. The judges were attentive, challenging and critical. The story ran on the radio and in the newspaper. It was a success.

Welcoming the audience

Bubacarr reviewing his arguments

The distinguished panel of judges, from L to R: Hannah Edmonds, Johannes Buabeng-Baidoo, Gaye Sowe, Pierre-Alexandre Henri

Sukai listening to the judges

Patrick arguing for the applicants

Ya Amie answering a question from the panel

After the moot, from L to R: Deputy Vice-Chancellor Omar Jah, Dean A. Senghore, Hannah Edmonds, Ya Amie Touray, Banjugu Nyangado, Johannes Buabeng-Baidoo, Patrick Gomez, Gaye Sowe, Bubacarr Drammeh, Sukai Bangura, Pierre-Alexandre Henri, Heather Keachie

Thank you to our sponsors so far!

We've had great success raising money here in the Gambia and internationally.

From The Gambia, thank you to the University of The Gambia, the Ministry of Higher Education, PURA and Gamcel.

From outside The Gambia, thank you to Ali Bangi, JT, Karen Hamilton, Meredith James, Daniel Loutfi, Gabriel Querry, Caroline Bracht, Ilana Bleichert, Behdad Esfahbod, Jeffrey Haylock, Derry Millar, Dave Kyffin, Andrew Newcombe, Jeremy Sculnick, David McGown, Sabrina & Zachary, Mark Tonkovich, William Bradford, Kerianne Wilson, Marie-Claire Perrault, Catherine Newnham, and others who chose to remain anonymous. 

Introducing the team....

The first ever Jessup team from the University of The Gambia:

Sukai Bangura

My name is Sukai Bangura and I am 21 years old. Aspiring to achieve a remarkable career in international human rights law which would enable me best utilize my communication skills and help me effectively exploit my potentials.

Mooting is the breeding ground for good advocates, and for this reason I have developed passion and dedication towards ensuring my future as a Human Rights Advocate by taking part in various mooting competitions.

Some of my personal achievements include: winner of the University of The Gambia National Moot Competition, finalist for the African Human Rights Moot Competition- Pretoria, South Africa (team to represent The University of The Gambia). I am also the Vice Chairperson of the Faculty of Law Students Human Rights Society. Some of my hobbies are watching movies and caring for plants.

Bubacarr Drammeh

My name is Bubacarr Drammeh and I am currently studying law in the University of The Gambia. My dream is to become a lawyer and one of the best advocates in the world. I believe mooting is one of the ways that will help me achieve this dream. I am so excited and honoured to be part of a team which will be representing my university for the first time in one of the most exciting and largest moots in the world.

Patrick Gomez

My name is Patrick Gomez, I'm 26 years of age. I'm currently in my third year in the University of The Gambia. I decided to study law because I've seen that so many human rights violations occur in our world today and so I believe with my legal studies I can contribute immensely to help bring those responsible to justice. I believe in taking part in moot competitions. I want to be exposed to the advocacy skills lawyers and human rights activities need to communicate their cases to the relevant legal authorities.

Banjugu Nyangado

 My name is Banjugu Nyangado. I was born in Kaur, a small village in the Central River Region. Being raised by a single parent, I had to stay with one of my aunts in Bakau, and this enabled me to do my junior level at Bakau Upper Basic School. After finishing with an unexpected result, I proceeded to Nusrat Senior Secondary School where I sat for my WASSCE and graduated top of  my class. This afforded me a Gambian Government scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in law at the University of The Gambia.

One of the things I have learned over the years is that my people have stopped smiling. This increases my interest in mooting to further develop advocacy skills to speak for my people and to make this place better for all of and for the generations to come.

The Jessup Mooting competition will help us to believe in ourselves and see that we have talents and capabilities recognized by the outside world. 

Ya Amie Touray

My name is Ya Amie Touray, and I am a third year law student in the University of The Gambia. I am twenty-one years of age with a dream of becoming a litigant and specialist in International Criminal Law. I have a passion for reading and learning new languages. I represented The Gambia in the International Criminal Count  Moot Competition  in The Hague and our team was awarded the best African Team of 2011. Participating in the Jessup mooting competitions will enable me to work on my advocacy skills and also get a broader view of how international law actually operates and its impact in the international community.