The charity is committed to supporting children in The Gambia through education, personal and community development. This holistic approach has required us to give attention not only to the specific educational requirements of classrooms, teacher training, teaching aids etc but also to their communities including the provision of feeding programmes, water supplies, malaria nets, health centres, garden development and bee keeping. Collectively these activities allow us to address the major elements affecting the child's development and protection.


Know The Gambia

The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours has enjoyed long spells of stability since independance. Unfortunately stability has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia River which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has lead to the predominance of one crop - peanuts.

This has made The Gambia heavily dependant on peanut exports - and a hostage to fluctuations in the production and world prices of the crop. Consequently, the country relies on foreign aid to fill gaps in its balance of payments. Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange, with most visitors being drawn to the resorts that occupy a stretch of the Atlantic coast.
In 1994 The Gambia's elected government was toppled in a military coup. The country returned to constitutional rule two years later when its military leader ran as a civilian and won a presidential election.


Key Facts & Figures

Population: 1.8 Million (UN 2008)

Capital: Banjul

Area: 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles)

Major Languages: English (Official), Mandinka, Wlolf, Fula

Major Religions: Islam, Christianity

Life Expectancy: 59 years (Men), 60 years (women)

Monetary Unit: 1 Dalasi = 100 Butut

Main Exports: Peanuts and related products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

International Dialling Code: +220