The students, wearing white shirts in the second row, pose with other ministers and US Ambassador Patricia Alsup [Moctar Darboe/Al Jazeera]
The students had reapplied for second interview and said that this time, they were asked questions relating to robotics.
The US embassy in The Gambia has reversed its decision and granted visas for a high school robotics team to compete in an international competition in the United States.
On Monday, it was reported that the team, made up of five teenagers, were denied visas to attend the FIRST Global robotics event in Washington DC on July 16-18.
However, in a second interview with the US embassy, all five students were given visas.
Fatoumata Ceesay, one of the engineering students, told Al Jazeera that although she and her peers werenโt told the reason behind the decisionโs reversal, the second interview differed a lot from the first one.
“It was very nice and sensible compared to the last one,” the 17-year-old Ceesay said. โThe questions were related to the robotics. We had an interesting conversation and they were friendly.”
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The students are required to go back to the embassy next Monday to receive the official visa.
A spokeswoman from the embassy said that while they do not comment on specific visa cases, applicants who are found ineligible for a non-immigrant visa have the right to re-apply.
“Sometimes, in a second interview, they are able to present new or additional information or background details that allow them to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent that each consular officer is required to assume,” the spokeswoman said.
Students designed a robot to compete in the FIRST Global event in the United States [Moctar Darboe/Al Jazeera]
Darboe, who is also the Director for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Ministry of Education, said although he knew that that visa restrictions applied to government officials such as himself, he nonetheless feels great that the students now have the chance to go and represent their country.
“The [first interview] we werenโt even allowed to submit the vital documentation,” Darboe said. “The kids were asked one or two questions each. It was not detailed enough to give a definitive conclusion.
“This time, it was very thorough. The counselor said he was very convinced by the students, and said he was [granting the visa] not just for them but also for promoting STEM in The Gambia,” he added.
Darboe said that the funding of the trip was down to FIRST Global but he received news that they had run out of money.
However, a spokesperson for FIRST Global said that they will do their best to get the team to Washington, DC.
“FIRST Global has worked to support teams and with this new news, will work earnestly with Team Gambia to get them here,” said Jose Escotto.
For Fatoumata and her fellow students, they hope that being able to attend the competition to showcase their robot will motivate the youth in furthering their engineering careers and encourage the development of engineering as a whole in The Gambia.
“We are most looking forward to meeting new friends, seeing their creations, exchanging their ideas and exploring new innovations,” Fatoumata said.
The FIRST Global Challenge is open to students aged 15 to 18 from across the globe. Around 158 countries will be represented, including 40 African countries.
Only one other country was denied visas to attend. The all-girls team from Afghanistan is still seeking answers as to why their applications were rejected.
Source: Al Jazeera
Ends
Fafa Cham
Why do people still continue to struggle to come to the USA. Let’s launch these programs in more friendly and innovative countries like Germany, Japan or China. US is no longer a country for anything especially for black Africans. This is pure humiliation especially when you check the manner the first interview was conducted.
Which other countries like Afghanistan we’re denied the Gambia is disrespected outright. Totally unacceptable from these idiot embassy. All people are created equal and the USA should know better. As an American, I am embarrassed especially for these young kids who have big dreams to change the world.
Bajaw
Fafa; supremacist US & Europe (West) will continue to impose &/ influence the African in particular; as long as (Africans) are prepared to follow suit, UNTIL Africans smell the coffee (them&/ourselves) & sneeze-it-out, to breathe resuscitate (back) into a healthier societal advancements enablement…
US, UK, (West) etc are evidently supremacy driven fat-cat (big-fish eat small-fish oceanic scenario) societies; especially to the African & other “immigrants” as the self-acclaimed lordships; based on manipulative banditry manoeuvres, coercions, sanctions, etc etc amongst plays underhand…
Humanity are the same; (as) all human beings possess same physiological features; just different in skin complexity textures; whilst (we all are) the same colour in blood, no matter what skin textures one can &/ may be world over…
The governments mustn’t accept such indifferences lying-down without challenging…