Projects in The Gambia

Agriculture

In collaboration with the Government of The Gambia, communities, relevant stakeholders, Peace Corps Volunteers identify ways to reduce poverty by improving agriculture productivity, promoting sustainable natural resource management by increasing the usage of holistic and agricultural and environmentally sound practices, and encouraging agricultural diversification by building capacity for agricultural practices at all levels, including the production, marketing, processing and value addition of agriculture products.

Agriculture Volunteers recommend the best agricultural practices adapted for the local environment, available resources, and culture they serve in. Volunteers partner with farmers in a variety of ways, principally acting as a resource for their communities around sustainable gardening and agroforestry practices. Additionally, Volunteers seek to support community members that are taking on leadership roles, attempting to enhance gropu/kaffoo governance, keep financial and production records, and pursuing other endeavors. Interventions are made with the goal that improvements outlast each Volunteer’s term of service. They can teach botanic/organic pesticide and composting techniques, encourage improved poultry management, and assist in the development of apiary projects, depending on the needs of their community. They also work to combat some of The Gambia’s most pressing environmental concerns, such as erosion, and deforestation with the development of tree nurseries and outgrowing/plantings at scale.

While working in local communities, Volunteers will help generate income, encourage healthy eating habits, cultivate environmentally friendly habits, and improve the overall quality of life.

Education

Peace Corps works in close partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to place Volunteers as teacher trainers throughout The Gambia to focus on strengthening the capacity of Gambian teachers in lower basic schools.

Volunteers work mainly in rural schools to promote improved teaching methods, concentrating on English language proficiency, literacy, and numeracy. Volunteers observe and share feedback on lessons plans, demonstrate new teaching methods and lesson plans, work with or collaborate with teachers on how to create student-centered classrooms, and encourage positive classroom management skills. Volunteers also partner with teachers to develop teaching and learning aids, assist in the organization and use of libraries, encourage the use of resource centers to acquire technological resources, and help organize extracurricular clubs for balanced childhood development. Volunteers organize and arrange for educators to attend workshops and trainings throughout the country, increasing their ability to provide a comprehensive educational environment to all students.

A major highlight for Education Volunteer Isbah has been working with her counterpart to support student learning at her school in The Gambia. During her service the school achieved second place in the National Assessment Test given across the country for the first time.

Health

Peace Corps collaborates with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of Gambian communities and promote healthy behaviors and practices. Volunteers work alongside health facilities, community members, health promoters/groups, and NGOs to deliver health education and promotion services, focusing on maternal and child health, youth health, and overall well-being.

Volunteers are placed near local health posts and facilities to assist clinics and communities by weighing babies, updating vaccination records, providing clinic attendance summary data, and discussing malnutrition prevention with mothers and caregivers. These clinics and community spaces also serve as venues for workshops on topics such as exclusive breastfeeding, birth spacing, family planning, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Additionally, schools provide opportunities for Volunteers to conduct teen health education sessions and initiatives.

Access to clean water and proper sanitation remains a challenge in many rural areas of The Gambia. Volunteers help address these issues by teaching proper handwashing techniques, promoting waste management, conducting sensitization on the dangers of open defecation, and introducing routine community cleanups and pit latrine covers.

Together with community members, Volunteers also collaborate with local government councils, departments, and organizations to write grants and secure funding for projects that strengthen community resources, such as boreholes, gardens, and other essential community needs.