The Vision

Education is the key to providing a better future for developing countries. This is why our aim is to bring The Gambia's health and education standards in-line with those of the Western world. By building high quality schools, primary health care clinics, and skills centre, WYCE is supporting the millennium development goals set by the EFA (Education for All) which envisages the development of the country by 2015.

Mission Statement

WYCE has committed itself to supplement and compliment the efforts of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia in the provision of excellent gainful educational opportunities, primary healthcare, life skills and employment facilities for the underprivileged communities to earn a sustainable decent standard of living in The Gambia.

Aims and Objectives

To develop a system of schooling, where every child gets an equal opportunity to education

To provide local employment opportunities

To improve training opportunities for the local people

To develop primary healthcare facilities for the less privileged communities

To develop the skills of teenagers through skills centres

To make The Gambia a wealthier and healthier place for everyone

The Scope of the Project

WYCE's short, medium and long term plans intend to narrow down its scope on education and health as two important social services. It, therefore, sets itself the challenging task of providing excellent educational opportunities for local communities to earn a decent livelihood.

Target Beneficiaries

WYCE's target beneficiaries are the less privileged communities in The Gambia in general. Project implementation started in 2003 at Madina Salaam in Kombo South, Western Region. This unique community founded in 1987 mainly by economic migrants, victims of ethnic and political conflicts from the sister republic of Guinea Bissau and the southern region of Senegal. The population of approximately 1,050 consists of many widows and orphans and constitute the four main ethnic groups i.e. Madinka, Fula, Wolof, Balanta and others.

Implementation Strategy

It is a fact to state that in any sustainable community development initiative, the beneficiaries must be active participants from decision-making to implementation. It is for this reason therefore that WYCE never regarded itself as the indefatigable resource provider but rather a genuine, concerned partner in development with the community of The Gambia.

The implementation strategy from the beginning has been based on popular participatory approach (PPA). The active surrogate arms of the PPA are obviously the spirit of voluntarism, simple research, study and continuous publicity through sensitisation. These components consisted of sub-projects and programmes such as workshops, training, seminars, surveys, networking, monitoring, evaluation, meetings, continuous assessment and reporting with the aim of achieving the desired objectives initially set.