Their journey, however, is often paved with unique challenges, resilience, and unwavering determination in balancing their work with caring for their children and husbands.
In an interview with The Point Newspaper, Awa Ceesay , who has three children, states that it is really difficult to be a working mother and a teacher, saying life in the village can be quite challenging. She explains that she would usually wake up early in morning to prepare her kids for school, fetch water and continue to school till 1:30PM.
“When I came back home, I use to cook for my family, launder my children's uniform and later prepare dinner for the family. That is quite challenging,” she said.
Mariama Singhateh, a supervisor at Nawfa, who is also a working mother, told The Point that she faces a lot of challenges when dealing with her family and work. Madam Singhateh says she supervises 7 of their branches at the West Coast Region, including Marakisa village, Ndemban Jola, Foni Block, Sibanor, Bintang, Dasilameh, and Foni Berefet.
"I have 6 children I look after and as well supervise different branches at our workplace. Sometimes going to these places can be difficult,” she laments. “I also leave my kids with my neighbours to take care of them, which is also another challenge. This is just because I don't want to depend on anyone."
Amie Saidy, who is an agent and a mother of a six-month-old baby, indicates that being a career woman with a baby is the most difficult task that one could encounter.
"Being a mother is never easy especially when you are breastfeeding your child. The mother would have to leave her child at home and go to work and this could honestly have a huge impact on the baby because the baby is not having proper feeding and the other thing is: wanting to fulfill your marital duties," Amie said.
Isatou Dampha, a resident of Bakau, and a mother of three, says balancing work and having kids to take care of is the most difficult thing one could experience. This, she added, could even lead to depression.
"It's always hard on me, especially in the morning. I would have to wake up very early to take care of my 6-month-old baby, drop her at the daycare school and then go to work. After work, I use to go and pick her up while struggling to reach home and prepare dinner for my husband. Sometimes the man would not even bother because they use to say ‘it's our responsibility’, which is very unfair," Dampha said.
