I was born and raised in the Casamance region of southern Senegal, in a town called Thionck Essyl. Thionck Essyl is unlike most Senegalese towns, When I was girl there were four villages in the same general area. The village leaders decided to move together to create one town. As a girl, I was raised by my Grandmother. I watched her secretly help those who didn't have much in the community. I learned from her and grew into a woman who is open and happy to give to others. I worked hard to help my community, especially the neighborhood children until I had a chance to come to USA.

Here in America I didn't forget my people. I took every chance to use my strength and cultural heritage to make money and send it back to them. Yermande Inc. is a non-profit organization that I believe can help me make a difference. For many years I have cooked meals and presented slide shows for fundraising events to help my community. I have also made sure to return on a regular basis, so they could see me and know I was well.

In 2019, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, I had a chance to spend a long time in my town. It was then that I began to see many difficulties and the beginnings of separation in the community. I decided to form groups in each of the neighborhoods and bring them together to have a conversation about how we can reconnect. We want out children to know and help each other and be as one. Some of the town accepted my plan, not because I live in the US , but because a daughter of their land came back to them.

Since then, I have become a musician and composer of many songs in my native language, and I have created a festival called "Garonghene Moukeunoum Mololale," which means, in our Diola language, "Let us revive our culture." I believe that this festival will help develop our community, bring us closer together, and remember the skills and traditions that allowed our forebearers to survive and thrive. My people are very happy and proud of me. They have named the festival, "Dallo Fest"

I am planning a trip to bring people to my home country. I want to lead this trip because some people who come over to see the reality of my country are not able to. I have heard many stories of travelers who are lead astray and mistreated by the tourism industry. I want lead a trip that will allow people to see the African reality.