Background
The Gambia is a country in Western Africa of 1.4 million people. It is the smallest country on the African continent and is bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. The River Gambia flows through the centre of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. In 1965, The Gambia became independent from the British Empire. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource deposits and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides.
The per capita income for people in Gambia is $290 a year and 54 percent of the population lives on less than one dollar a day. The education system has been improving over the past 15 years, but the numbers are still low. Today 78% of girls and 79% of boys now attend primary school, compared to just 48% in 1991. The numbers drop dramatically when it comes to secondary education. Only 27% of girls and 39% of boys attend secondary school. That is only a ten percent improvement in the past 10 years. The government spends 8.9% of its costs on improving education. When it comes to the internet, only 3.3% of the population has access. That is a dramatic improvement over the .2% that had access in the year 2000. If Gambia can continue this trend there is hope for dramatic improvement, not just in education, but in all sectors.
World Links in The Gambia
World Links began working in the Gambia in late 2000. There were 25 schools in the program by 2003. There were three primary schools, seven junior schools and fifteen senior secondary schools. World Links also collaborated with three tertiary institutions in the Gambia.
World Links Gambia had a good working relationship based on an MOU with the Peace Corps office in The Gambia; together, World Links organized ICT-related programs, especially the gender/development and ICT workshop held annually between Peace Corps and World Links since 2002. World Links was also working closely with the Secretary of State for Education.
