English teaching
Small village schools
Ages 4 - 14
Opportunity for adult education

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Volunteer Projects in Gambia

Introduction

The Gambia is one of the nicest areas in Africa to spend time in as a career break volunteer. Volunteers in Gambia can experience the 'real' Africa, the noise, the drums, the heat, the dust and, best of all, the friendly village people. And, just a short distance away, the rolling surf of the Atlantic, with water temperature around 28°C. Career breaks in Gambia provide the perfect opportunity to experience Africa in safe and happy surroundings.

About Gambia

The Gambia is a small country in West Africa. Apart from a small Atlantic seaboard, it is entirely surrounded by Senegal. The geography of the country is dominated by the Gambia river basin and floodplain, beyond which lies savannah and low hills. The climate is tropical with a hot rainy season (June to November) and a cooler dry season (November to May).

The Gambia's population is made up of five major ethnic groups, several minor ones, and a small number of foreigners. The Mandinka make up approximately 40%, the Fula 19%, the Wolof 15%, the Jola 10% and the Serahule 9%. Although these are represented in each of the country's six administrative divisions, they are concentrated in particular areas. Mandinkas are the majority in the western half of the country, particularly in the North Bank. Wolofs predominate in the capital, Banjul and in some areas of the North Bank. Fulas and Serahules are largely concentrated in the east around McCarthy Island and the Upper River Division, with Jolas in the Western Division. The minor ethnic groups are the Serer, Aku and Manjago, and people from other African countries and non-Africans make up the rest of the population.

Mondo In Gambia

MondoChallenge has been offering volunteer programmes in the Gambia since 2001, with volunteer programmes offering opportunities for assisting with education and business development.

We are currently sending career break volunteers to four teaching projects and two business development programmes.

The Business Development involve working with the National Beekeepers Association of The Gambia (NBAG), providing help in the areas of marketing, finance and project management. More recently volunteers have begun to assist the Allatentu Support Kafoo (ASK), a group that helps people living with HIV and AIDS, Click on one of the options on the right for further information.

Things to see and do in Gambia

Although The Gambia is Africa's smallest non-island nation, it offers landscapes and attractions of great diversity, ranging from broad, sandy beaches on the Atlantic to lush tropical forests, swamps, marshes and large areas of wooded savannah. The towns and markets are also fascinating, and it is worth spending a little time in Banjul just to soak up Gambian life.

There is some fantastic bird-watching available, and even if you don't think that you are much of a twitcher you will still find a trip to one of the many reserves fascinating. It's well worth getting a guide as they really know their stuff, but try to make sure they are 'official' as otherwise they may not know very much and your money will be wasted.

Trips up the river are a good way to relax, although they can be expensive if you organise them with a tour operator. There are also some wonderful lodges around the country although, again, some can be quite expensive. The Lamin Lodge near Lamin village is a popular place for volunteers to relax, have a nice lunch and organise boat trips. Prices vary between 800 Dalasis to 3000 Dalasis depending on the boat size and length of time for the trip.

Living in Gambia

While most visits to volunteer in the Gambia are trouble-free,we recommend referring to the FCO website for the most upto date information and travel advice. In general, volunteers should always take certain precautions to minimize the potential for being a target of crime. Although The Gambia is considered one of the safest countries in West Africa, volunteers have experienced petty theft, pick pocketing, and home break-ins. You can reduce your risk by avoiding situations that make you feel uncomfortable and by dressing modestly. Remember that crime in smaller villages or towns is less frequent than in large cities. In smaller communities, people know one another and generally will not steal from their neighbours. This means that career break volunteers are safest in their host communities.

Pickpocketing and bag snatching most frequently occur in congested areas such as marketplaces, beaches, bus terminals and ferry crossings. Being aware of your surroundings and projecting a confident attitude can reduce your changes of becoming a victim of petty theft. You should also make sure to hide money and valuables in inaccessible places, never exhibit large amounts of money, and always walk with a companion at night or take a taxi.