ABOUT US
The Gambian Children’s Fund was founded by Sharon Jervis in 2005, following a trip to Gambia and a visit to Joyce’s International School in Kunkajang. The tiny school had been run by Ismaila Sassy and his friend Joyce. 40 local children came to the school every day. Since then, GCF has funded the building of five classroom blocks, a catering block, new toilets and provided support for new school furniture and classroom supplies.
The school now has 600 children enrolled across Nursery and Primary years, employs 10 teachers, has an active parent committee and has become a hub of the local community. We have recently commenced work on a third classroom block to cater for the increased amount of pupils.
Joyce’s International School is our first partnership in Gambia and, after our success here, we are now ready to roll out our model, Improving Learning Environments to other under-funded schools in the area.
The Gambia has no state-funded Nursery or Primary education. To gain access to Secondary School, a pupil must have been through Nursery and Primary school. Therefore many children who can’t afford school fees, miss out on education completely.
We believe that education is key to a thriving society and we are committed to improving the educational environments of children in Gambia to allow them to reach their potential and to improve the quality of life for them and their families. Our support allows schools to keep their fees to a minimum, which means more children can access education and can, therefore, go on to secondary education and then university, college or employment.
Our relationship with the schools we support is one of partnership, not dependency. We respect local cultures and processes and do not assume that we know best in terms of the running of these institutions.
The pillars of our model :
Our long term aim is to partner with more schools as we grow and to apply our model in a flexible and fluid way to offer the best support we possibly can to as many children as possible across the beautiful country of Gambia.
None of this would be possible without the support of generous individuals like you. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, your involvement can make a significant difference in the lives of Gambian children. Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and provide them with the opportunities they deserve.
Join us at the Gambian Children’s Fund as we strive to empower children in The Gambia and create a brighter future for generations to come. Together, let’s make a lasting impact and bring hope to the lives of these incredible young individuals.