Ms. Jawara defies the stereotype of the kind of African migrant — typically rural, male and married — who sets off on the so-called back way to Europe. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyBefore she set out for Europe, Ms. Jawara was a star for the Red Scorpions. But Ms. Jawara loudly encouraged her teammates to remain in Gambia. In Serekunda, where she lived with her mother and a large extended family, Ms. Jawara struggled to make her life better. Between cooking large meals and giving her mother and sisters the small earnings she received from soccer matches, Ms. Jawara was the family’s main source of hope.

Source: New York Times January 12, 2017 18:29 UTC