The Gambia

ChildFund’s programs for school-aged children in The Gambia focus on education, health, psychosocial support and children’s rights. We train teachers on better classroom management and experiential learning, and ChildFund provides schools with desks, learning materials and other resources. Children have better access to healthcare and learn about personal hygiene and preventing disease, and we organize events around children’s rights and social advocacy, including Day of the African Child and International Children’s Day. In 2015, ChildFund introduced a social and financial education program in 18 primary schools in The Gambia.

For teens and young adults, ChildFund offers support in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership, advocacy and healthcare. Livelihood training has two components: one to train youth in basic business skills and organizational development, and the second to expose them to different economic opportunities. The second program is targeted for young men and women who have dropped out of school. In 2015, we trained more than 600 young adults, using both approaches. We also have provided training in agricultural careers through a cooperative garden started by 22 youth, and a group of young women started their own tailoring business after gaining entrepreneurial skills.

In our Leadership and Advocacy Program, young people form community groups and make their voices heard at meetings of local boards and other decision-making bodies. In the arena of health, teens learn about reproductive and sexual health rights and responsibilities, including early marriage and motherhood, gender-based violence and other important issues.