The Gambia

VSO has been working in The Gambia since 1960, and its work currently focuses on the areas of education, secure livelihoods and disability.

Education

Education volunteers are working with the Department of State for Education at all levels in the sector. The aim is to improve the quality of primary education for all boys and girls living in rural areas and volunteers do this by working at the country's one teacher training college – Gambia College in Brikama to train teachers and support the management. Volunteers also support rural primary schools in Central River Division, work to increase the abilities of education managers at national, regional and primary school levels, encourage communities to participate in school management, and advocate for the development and implementation of a national curriculum that is appropriate to the needs of all students.

Through the Valuing Teachers research, the education program made an assessment of the factors that influence teacher motivation. This research will form the basis of education advocacy activities for the Education for All Campaign Network.

Secure livelihoods

In secure livelihoods, volunteers are ensuring that the poorest rural communities can increase their income and food security from small business enterprises and farming activities. Agricultural specialists work with local NGO staff offering guidance on how to increase food production through the uses of different techniques and equipment. Organizational development and management volunteers work with partner agencies to build their capacities to effectively manage these agencies. These volunteers encourage the development of new skills, such as strategic planning, record keeping, proposal development, report writing and marketing.

Disability

Volunteers focusing on disability are working with disabled people’s groups in both rural and urban areas. A significant amount of work is going into:

• improving the management structures of these agencies

• providing support to the day-to-day needs of people with disabilities

• advocating for the rights of people with disabilities

• increasing awareness of disability issues in Gambian society.

A joint project with the Disabled Peoples Organizations has just successfully secured funding from Big Lottery Fund in the UK. Implementation of this three-year project started at the end of 2007.

VSO The Gambia is currently exploring the possibility of using national volunteering to maximize the impact of our three programs.