𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝: 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞

For many young Gambians, the dream of a better life has often been linked to the dangerous “backway” migration route to Europe. While some make the journey, countless others face unimaginable hardship, and many return home believing they have failed.

Abubacarr Darboe (Right) returned from a “Backway” journey to start a thriving clothing business in Gunjur

For 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐞 , however, returning home marked the beginning of a remarkable new chapter.

The founder of 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝™️ is sharing his personal story to inspire young Gambians to believe in the opportunities that exist within their own country and to encourage them to invest in skills, entrepreneurship, and self-belief.

Speaking about his experience, Darboe recalled that he left The Gambia in 2021 convinced that success could only be found in Europe. His journey took him through Senegal, Mali, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, where he endured numerous hardships while pursuing his dream of reaching Europe.

Despite his determination, that dream never materialised.

In 2023, Darboe made the difficult decision to return to The Gambia, a decision he now describes as the turning point in his life.

Instead of allowing disappointment to define his future, he chose to focus on the tailoring skills he had already acquired. With determination, faith and a renewed sense of purpose, he established Kairo Brand™️, a fashion label whose name symbolises peace. The business was officially registered in 2024 and has continued to grow as a reflection of his passion for fashion, creativity and quality craftsmanship.

Today, Darboe believes his experience carries an important lesson for the country’s youth.

“Never give up on your dreams. Never believe that Europe is the only path to success. Invest in your talent, develop your skills, work hard and believe in yourself.”

Beyond building his own business, Darboe says he is determined to create opportunities for others. He hopes to train and mentor aspiring fashion designers, equipping young people with practical skills that can lead to self-employment and successful businesses.

His vision extends beyond clothing. He wants Kairo Brand™️ to become a platform for youth empowerment, helping nurture the next generation of Gambian entrepreneurs and fashion designers.

As youth unemployment and irregular migration continue to dominate national conversations, stories such as Darboe’s demonstrate that resilience, innovation and vocational skills can create meaningful opportunities at home.

His journey serves as a reminder that while the road to success is rarely straightforward, setbacks do not have to define a person’s future. Sometimes, returning home can become the first step towards achieving a dream that once seemed impossible.

For the young people of The Gambia, Abubacarr Darboe’s message is simple but powerful: 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 - 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞.