By: Fatou Krubally
Launched his debut book, Journey of the Village Boy, a memoir chronicling his upbringing in a rural community and the challenges faced by children in accessing education.
The 162-page book was unveiled at the Baobab Holiday Resort and traces Kandeh’s childhood in Cha Kunda village, Central River Region North, highlighting issues such as long distances to school, limited learning resources, and social barriers confronting rural students.
Yaya Kandeh, who currently works with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said the book is intended to inspire young people to remain focused and resilient despite difficult circumstances.
The event was attended by senior government officials and members of the literary community. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Louis Moses Mendy, served as guest speaker and officially launched the book. He described the memoir as inspiring and said it would be submitted for consideration as supplementary school reading material.
Youth Adviser Lamin K. Saidy also attended the launch and purchased multiple copies in support of the author, while President of the Writers Association of The Gambia, Professor Cherno Omar Barry, commended the work for documenting a personal journey shaped by perseverance and community support.
In his remarks, Kandeh acknowledged the sacrifices of his parents and the role of mentorship and communal encouragement in his academic and professional development. He noted that the journey from a rural village to an international health institution was marked by significant hardship but made possible through determination and guidance.
Kandeh announced plans to donate copies of the book to schools he previously attended, to motivate students from similar backgrounds.
Journey of the Village Boy underscores the role of education, resilience, and community support in personal development, and reflects on how rural origins, while challenging, can contribute to shaping identity and purpose.