- Registered Charity Number 1156030
- adissponsorship@gmail.com
- Registered Charity Number 1156030
- adissponsorship@gmail.com
WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT?
The Gambia
Poverty
A major problem for people in The Gambia is the fact that if you are born poor you stay poor.
The main obstacle for social change is lack of opportunity to access education which leads to an inability to escape from menial employment.
The following story is typical of the desperate efforts some people make to escape the poverty trap.
Kebba was 17 years old. He lived in the same small fishing community where the school is located. He attended school from the age of 7 but when he was 12 years old his father died.
A he had three younger siblings, Kebba had to leave school and find employment drying the fish brought in by the local boats.
After two years he graduated to working on the fishing boats, a hazardous job for young people, a significant percentage of who lose their lives.
After two years he graduated to working on the fishing boats, a hazardous job for young people, a significant percentage of who lose their lives.
Seeing little fture for himself and family, he like many others made plans to head to Europe to ‘make his fortune’.
One night Kebba and five of his fisherman friends set off in a small boat intending to reach the Canary Isles, some 1600kms away.
Kebba and his friends never reached The Canaries and never came home.
ABOUT
THE GAMBIA
The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. It is the smallest non-island country in the continent of Africa and is reported to have the second most generous peoples in Africa (at number 4, globally). This may explain why it is known as The Smiling Coast.
The Gambia has world-class bird watching, golden sandy beaches, an exhilarating culture and vibrant atmosphere. As of 2024, the population of The Gambia is estimated to be between 2,759,988 and 2,841,803 people, depending on the source. The Gambia is an Islamic country, with a population of approximately 90% Muslims and 10% Christians.
The Gambia's economy is primarily based on agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, which together account for about 60% of the country's GDP. The main exports are groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum and millet, but the country also produces mangoes, corn, sesame, palm kernel, and cashews.
Poverty and inequality remain high, while disparities prevail in access to essential service. The Gambia's labour market suffers from significant underutilisation, low labour force participation, and high informal employment, with large gender disparities. 10% of the population travel abroad to work. According to education statistics from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the primary school completion rate was at 80% in 2023 for boys and 96% for girls. The lower secondary completion rate was at 56% for boys and 75% for girls in 2023.
Ghana Town is a small coastal fishing town in western Gambia. The town was originally built by Fishermen and women from the Fante coast of Ghana's Central Region in 1957. It remains very much, a fishing community with a high level of poverty.
Other charities we support in Gambia
They provide School Tables & Chairs, Ambulance Run, School Pack Appeal. A number of our Trustees actively support this charity.
The aim of this UK registered charity is to reduce rural poverty in The Gambia through improving the health, welfare and productivity of ALL animals but working animals in particular.
Ian one of our Trustees is the past President. They have been involved in The Gambia including finding the training of seven teachers at Aunty Dorricing’s School. The Start Now Project, a centre for the blind, and currently the Maternity Hygiene Project in hospitals.
Got a question? Please get in touch.
Sponsor a child
You can Sponsor a Gambian child ensuring they can attend primary school for the equivalent of £1.35 per week.
