what is Gambia Girls?

Gambia is not only among the smallest countries in Africa but unfortunately also among the poorest on the whole continent. As per the latest Sustainable Development Goal Report for Africa (2020), the country ranked still very low in the categories “quality education” and “gender equality.” Even in the more developed coastal areas of the country, leading an empowered life is very difficult for women. Communities like Sukuta Town, Kombo North District, are suffering from having no possibilities to educate young women in practical skills, as the required skill training centers which could teach such skills are far away and unaffordable for most families. As a result, the majority of young women are left with no prospects to become financially independent and therefore have no other option than to marry at an early age.

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The town of Sukuta is backing up the need for gender equality to start a project that will help give young women a choice of learning a skill that will enable them to be financially independent.

In 2021, Gather raised start-up funds to get tye-dye fabric production off the ground. We sold local handmade pottery donated by The Kiln in Fairhope, AL. The town is offering the use of the Sukuta Community Center building. We raised enough funds to help build restrooms in the center and funding for the cost of fabric, dyes and wax needed to make batik, tye-dye traditional fabric.

Since then 19 girls have graduated our training program! Learning how to make tye-dye fabric and sell their product at the market!

Now in 2022, we are currently raising funds for the next group of girls to be able to join the training and graduate. This time we are selling their very own hand made tie dyes all the way from Gambia! God is so good.