Guinean Student Rides across Africa to Get to School
2023-10-03
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1Mamadou Safaiou Barry lives in the West African nation of Guinea.
2He wanted to study Islamic theology at a top school in Cairo, Egypt.
3Without money to pay for transport, Barry drew a map of Africa and headed out on a used bicycle for the trip across the continent.
4Carrying only a change of clothes, a flashlight, and a small tool, the 25-year-old rode through jungles, deserts, and conflict areas in the hope of getting accepted to the school and finding a way to pay for it.
5Four months and seven countries later, he is in Cairo with a full scholarship to Al-Azhar University.
6That is one of the world's oldest and most respected Sunni Muslim learning centers.
7"If you have a dream, stay with it and be strong," Barry said.
8"God will help you."
9Thousands of West Africans like Barry take risky journeys across the Sahara desert each year, searching for a better life.
10But many never make it.
11Nearly 500 people died or disappeared on West African migration routes last year, data from the International Organization for Migration shows.
12Barry decided the risk was worth the reward.
13"I had to fight," Barry said last August in Chad.
14Barry rode about 100 kilometers each day. He rode through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, and Niger.
15He had to stop in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital because of the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
16He said he had already been detained three times - twice in Burkina Faso and once in Togo.
17There, security forces held him for nine days without charge before releasing him for $56.
18That was all of his money for the rest of the trip, he said.
19"I often slept in the bush because I was afraid of people in the cities," Barry said.
20"I thought they would take my bike and hurt me."
21Barry's luck changed again in Chad.
22There, a local philanthropist, who had read about his trip online, offered to fly him directly to Egypt and avoid the fighting in Sudan.
23Barry arrived in Cairo on September 5 and days later received a full scholarship to Al-Azhar.
24He intends to return to Guinea when his studies are complete, to spread the faith that has taken him so far.
25"When I return to my country, I would like to be someone who teaches Islam and tells people how to do good things," he said.
26I'm Dan Novak.
1Mamadou Safaiou Barry lives in the West African nation of Guinea. He wanted to study Islamic theology at a top school in Cairo, Egypt. 2Without money to pay for transport, Barry drew a map of Africa and headed out on a used bicycle for the trip across the continent. 3Carrying only a change of clothes, a flashlight, and a small tool, the 25-year-old rode through jungles, deserts, and conflict areas in the hope of getting accepted to the school and finding a way to pay for it. 4Four months and seven countries later, he is in Cairo with a full scholarship to Al-Azhar University. That is one of the world's oldest and most respected Sunni Muslim learning centers. 5"If you have a dream, stay with it and be strong," Barry said. "God will help you." 6Thousands of West Africans like Barry take risky journeys across the Sahara desert each year, searching for a better life. But many never make it. Nearly 500 people died or disappeared on West African migration routes last year, data from the International Organization for Migration shows. 7Barry decided the risk was worth the reward. 8"I had to fight," Barry said last August in Chad. 9Barry rode about 100 kilometers each day. He rode through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, and Niger. He had to stop in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital because of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. 10He said he had already been detained three times - twice in Burkina Faso and once in Togo. There, security forces held him for nine days without charge before releasing him for $56. 11That was all of his money for the rest of the trip, he said. 12"I often slept in the bush because I was afraid of people in the cities," Barry said. "I thought they would take my bike and hurt me." 13Barry's luck changed again in Chad. There, a local philanthropist, who had read about his trip online, offered to fly him directly to Egypt and avoid the fighting in Sudan. 14Barry arrived in Cairo on September 5 and days later received a full scholarship to Al-Azhar. 15He intends to return to Guinea when his studies are complete, to spread the faith that has taken him so far. 16"When I return to my country, I would like to be someone who teaches Islam and tells people how to do good things," he said. 17I'm Dan Novak. 18Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Reuters. 19______________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21theology - n. the study of religious faith, practice, and experience 22bicycle- n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals 23scholarship - n. an amount of money that is given by a school, an organization, etc., to a student to help pay for the student's education 24reward - n. to give money or another kind of payment to for something good that has been done 25bush - n. a large area that has not been cleared and that is not used for farming 26philanthropist - n. 27a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people 28faith - n. strong belief or trust in someone or something