Meet the Team

Matthew A. Gomez

Executive Director Education Program – JOYE, The Gambia

What would we do without Matthew? A Gambian native, Matthew is an educator with six years school administrative work and seventeen years of classroom teaching experience. Matthew is the current Vice Principal at St. Michael’s Basic Cycle School – Nongon, The Gambia. As The Gambia Executive Director of Education Program for JOYE, Matthew oversees all JOYE education program in The Gambia. He is responsible for all aspects of education sponsorship and beneficiaries’ selection process, tutoring/mentoring programs, and ongoing beneficiaries’ development. Matthew studied Business management and project management at the University of The Gambia.  Matthew has been part and parcel of the JOYE journey since the beginning and has been volunteering for JOYE since 2011. Matthew is passionate about the value of volunteering and is particularly passionate about the power of education on her community’s youth.

Alphonse Mendy
Executive Director – Treasurer

Alphonse Mendy (better known as Pa) spent some period post high school studying in London. Upon completion of his studies, he returned to The Gambia and has been working for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a laboratory scientist for the past five years. As the JOYE Gambia team treasurer he is responsible for financial report to the team, coordination of donatios, accountable for all financial transactions of JOYE in The Gambia, sign checks, and chairperson to financial committee. Pa has a passion for volunteer and a member of several organizations like Church development committee, Kanifing East Youth and sports development committee to name a few. He also travel extensively within The Gambia for work and in his own words “on one of my treks to the rural area, we drove past a school and I saw some of the kids with torn uniforms and without shoes going to school. Some looked very untidy but they still smiled as we drove past them. My heart bleeds for them and since then I have been thinking of ways to help them. When Alphy the founder told me about JOYE I knew this is my opportunity for helping those kids. I am volunteering to help JOYE to reach out to needy students, spreading the word so all will know about JOYE and also help to recruit more volunteers. If we all contribute in one way or the other helping out needy children, sooner or later there will be no needy child. Education is the key to success and the safest way out of poverty but it is very expensive, with JOYE it becomes free”.  

Lydia Lena Renner
Executive Vice President – JOYE, The Gambia

As JOYE – The Gambia Executive Vice President, Lydia oversees all JOYE programs in Gambia. She is responsible for the development of new programs as well as recruitment, development, and ongoing management of Directors and volunteers.

Born and raised in The Gambia, Lydia travelled to Dublin, Ireland to further her studies where she obtained her Diploma in International Trade and Marketing from Colaiste Ide.  Currently, she is pursuing a BA in Human Resources Management.  Lydia works as a Human Resource Manager for Elton Oil Company Limited. In search of a way to contribute and make a positive difference in people’s lives, In April of 2013, Lydia found JOYE. After couple of exchanges with the founder of JOYE on the mission of JOYE and understanding the impact JOYE is having in the lives of underprivileged children.  She did not hesitate to become a JOYE volunteer. Lydia is passionate about the value of volunteering and is committed to ensuring JOYE volunteers have a positive impact in the lives of the underprivileged children, its partner organizations, and donors. Lydia in her own words stated “it is great being part of a team that is striving hard to make a difference in helping young people achieve their dreams through Education and other essential needs.  With my experience and training in the Human Resources Management field, I hope to help JOYE realize its vision of enabling young people in need reach their full potential through education assistance, by being an active volunteer. Most of the Youths in our sponsorship program, basic primary education was a farfetched dream because their parents’ / guardians could not afford to send them to school, which drove my desire to become a JOYE volunteer and contribute in making their dreams become reality”. 

 Rohie Ceesay
Secretary/Admin – JOYE, The Gambia

Throughout her teenage years to date, Rohie spent all her free time doing volunteer work. Rohie studied commerce/Business Admin in High school and graduated 3 years ago.  She has been looking for an organization to volunteer for and one that is stable and provides growth opportunity.  She joined JOYE Gambia team in January 2015 and she absolutely adores the opportunity to work with the JOYE team and is always happy to share some of her volunteering knowledge and experience. As a Secretary to the team she oversees the documentation process, records keeping, and assists the group with updates on JOYE activities. Rohie lives and breathe volunteerism and always looking for ways to make a difference.  Her passion lies in fighting for hunger and when you ask her about her mission in life she is quick to say “My mission is to build a hunger free Gambia and the world at large”.