Overview
This literacy project, in The Gambia, aims to assist girls and young women from four tribes, teaching them how to read and write in the languages of these tribal groups. This project fills a gap, since many young girls are utilised by their families as farm hands and home helpers for their mothers rather than being sent to school.
In many parts of Africa, sons receive the benefits of schooling while daughters do not. This has clear ramifications for individual families, communities and the broader society as women remain marginalised
from the workplace and opportunities to improve their lives.
The Gambia in West Africa is the smallest country within the African
mainland. Its needs are great as poverty is high, close to 50% of the
2.7 million population cannot read or write and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) has ranked the country in the “Low
Human Development” category. Most of its people work as farmers.
Girls are married very young and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is
still widely practiced. Daughters have no right to inherit their father’s
property, this goes to the first-born son. Girls are often seen as inferior
and of less value to the family. Research shows that poor reading
ability impacts spiritual growth and understanding of God’s message
so these girls will be equipped to not only read but understand the
Bible and the message of the Gospel.
Statistics
- 2.7 million people in The Gambia
- 51% of older women are non-literate / 57% of young women are non-literate
- 4-5% of the population are Christian
If the appeal is oversubscribed or the project changes due to unforeseen reasons, we will reallocate remaining funds to similar projects.
