Zakat Foundation of America in

The Gambia

Response to Humanitarian Crisis

The Gambia is in West Africa and borders the Atlantic coast. It is Africa’s smallest country, only 295 miles long, and the most densely populated with 2.7 million residents. The uniquely shaped country borders Senegal and is the result of territorial negotiations made in the 19th century between Great Britain and France. The Gambia's issues stem mainly from high rates of unemployment and inflation that affect everyday items such as food. Additionally, The Gambia lacks proper health infrastructure and access to quality healthcare, affecting many throughout the region. To survive, Gambians are forced to migrate which often lead to unthinkably perilous journeys. Some end up on a different continent, distanced from their culture and loved ones, working to send money back to support their families. Other bright young people may attempt “the backway”, a dangerous journey which includes crossing the Saharra Dessert, to Europe through North Africa. This trek puts their lives at risk and can lead to being detained upon arrival.

At Zakat Foundation of America, we provide a viable alternative for this unfortunate choice by working alongside local organizations focused on solving systemic and structural challenges. With these partnerships we will imbue a new generation of students with the tools to be successful in their own country, so that they do not have to seek their futures elsewhere and can ignite a new wave of success from within The Gambian soil. We equip these youth to be educated leaders and path makers. Beginning in 2022, Zakat Foundation of America partnered with The Gambia Academy, founded by Dr. Sona Jobarteh, to drive educational reform across Africa. Their African-centered curriculum empowers students with critical thinking and leadership skills. At the 2024 Global Peace Leadership Conference, experts praised the Academy’s success, aiming to replicate its model continent-wide.

Zakat Foundation Sponsored New Curriculum Initiative (NCI)

An educational framework centered on four core subjects: Literacy, African History, Math, and Science.

Educational Framework

Serves the specific needs of West Africans and their communities
Provides practical, hands-on learning opportunities
Incorporates local culture and tradition to instill pride + connection
Replicable for swift expansion across remaining West African nations

Rigorous Education

Provides context-specific training for success in Africa
Prepares students for leadership roles in their community
Nurtures their self-identity and pride in being African
Instills confidence and self-determination
Actively challenges the misconception that a better future will be found elsewhere

Specific Outcomes & Impacts

Increased number of skilled workers in The Gambia
Fewer young adults opt to leave for Europe and America
Turnkey education model that can be replicated elsewhere
Gender equality established among cohort of boys and girls

News from The Gambia

Sona Jabarte Preserves The Gambia Culture with The Gambia Academy

Have you ever stopped to think that music could help people reclaim their heritage and overcome decades of British Imperialism? This is precisely what Sona Jabarte has done with The Gambia Academy.

Stories

The Executive Director of the Zakat Foundation of America Mr. Demir in The Gambia

Ambassador Bah, executive director of Zakat Foundation discuss investment in The Gambia

His Excellency Momodou Lamin Bah, Ambassador of The Gambia to the United States of America, recently received in his office the Executive Director of Zakat Foundation of America, Mr. Halil Demir.

Press Clippings

Zakat Foundation of America Spearheads Summit for Peace and Prosperity with Experts from UNESCO and The Gambia Academy

Recognizing the transformative power of learning, in 2022 Zakat Foundation of America partnered with The Gambia Academy and its founder, Dr. Sona Jobarteh, in order to drive educational reform throughout Africa.

Press Releases

Our Impact in The Gambia

136,012+ Lives Impacted

58,350 Water Well Beneficiaries

5,410 Meals Distributed Through Food Security Programs

3, 546 Udhiyah Meat Packages Distributed

35 students/year at The Gambia Academy

Zakat Foundation of America sponsors the New Curriculum Initiative NCI Program

Stories of Change

Fostering Education by Supporting Community Initiatives at The Gambian Academy

Choro

Choro came to the academy in 2015. She travels 90 minutes each way to and from her home in Sanchaba Sulay Jobe to The Gambia Academy.

She came from a very challenging home environment- a broken home.

Her mother was now married to her stepfather. Because she was not his biological daughter, Choro was frequently the object of his aggression and rage.

Quite often, she was not even allowed inside the home unless her mother was there.

Her mother, who is not literate and only speaks Wolof, struggled to keep Choro in school because her stepfather refused to allocate funding towards her education.

As a result, Choro had only a sporadic education prior to arriving at the academy.

Michael

Michael is one of eight children, but in contrast to Choro his has a lot of family support and love. Yet his family is one of the least economically stable ones at the school.

His major challenge, early on, was that he was classified as “homeless”, which is a big taboo in The Gambia. As a result, Michael was constantly bullied before he came to The Gambia Academy.

Michael lives nearby in Medina Salam. We gave him a bicycle, so he can get himself back and forth to school.

During his initial school interview, Michael found it difficult to speak. When asked if he could change one thing about his situation, he said it was to stop being bullied for not having a home. As a result of continually being targeted, he was a very depressed, very shy young person.