Welcome to the number one site for information on Peace Corps The Gambia! If you want to volunteer in The Gambia, this is the perfect website for you. We will share the history of Peace Corps in The Gambia. We will also describe what The Gambia is like as a country. You can learn about the languages used there. You can also read about other volunteers’ time in The Gambia. Here you can find information about safety and health. We will also give ways to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who served in The Gambia. Get ready to find lots of useful information to help you decide if volunteering in The Gambia is right for you!
Volunteers in The Gambia working with their communities on locally prioritized projects in Agriculture, Education (leave in June); and Health.
What is the History of Peace Corps The Gambia?
The Peace Corps has been working in The Gambia, a country in West Africa, since way back in 1967. Volunteers have gone there to help with different projects. Over the years, they’ve done lots of different things to help the people in The Gambia. They’ve taught subjects like English and math, and they’ve also helped train teachers and make school plans. They’ve taught about health, like how to prevent diseases, and helped with farming, like growing crops and taking care of animals. Some volunteers worked on community projects, like making clean water available. And others focused on saving the environment by planting trees and teaching about protecting nature. These programs have changed over time to fit what The Gambia needs.
What about The Gambia as a nation?
The Gambia is a small country in West Africa. It’s unique because it’s like a thin strip of land with a river running through it. It’s surrounded by Senegal on three sides and has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia became its own country in 1965 after being ruled by the British. It’s home to many different groups of people with their own cultures. The country’s economy depends on farming, tourism, and money sent back by Gambians living abroad. The Gambia has had some changes in its government in recent years.
What languages do they speak in The Gambia?
In The Gambia, the main language used for official things like government and school is English. But, people in different parts of The Gambia also speak their own languages. Some of these languages are Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and Jola. So, many Gambians speak more than one language, like English and their local language.
During their service in The Gambia, Volunteers learn to speak local languages, including Jola, Mandinka, Pulaar, Sarahule, and Wolof.
How safe is it serve as a volunteer in The Gambia?
In general, 100% of volunteers felt safe or very safe where they lived in The Gambia. And 96% felt safe or very safe where they worked. 15% of volunteers early terminated. But more detailed information about safety compared to other Peace Corps countries can be found in the The Gambia Country Crime Profile.
Most of the medical problems seen in The Gambia are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted infections, adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in The Gambia because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses.
The medical problems specific to The Gambia are giardiasis, amoebic dysentery, yellow fever, typhoid, meningitis, Hepatitis A and B, diarrhea, skin infections, dental problems, headaches, respiratory infections, minor injuries, amoebic dysentery, HIV/AIDS, and STIs. Health problems also can result from local environmental factors, such as dust, humidity, insects, and disease-producing microorganisms. Because malaria is endemic in The Gambia, Volunteers will be required to take anti-malarial medication.
But more detailed information about health related issues at Peace Corps The Gambia can be found in the The Gambia Health and Medical Care Summary.
What do volunteers think of serving in The Gambia?
Since 1975, the Annual Volunteer Survey has been a source of information on the state of the Peace Corps (PC) program for the agency, Congress, researchers, the media, and the general public. In 2019,86% of volunteers found their overall Peace Corps service rewarding or very rewarding. 78% of volunteers would still make the same decision to serve with the Peace Corps today. 71% of volunteers would recommend Peace Corps service to others. More information can be found in the The Gambia Annual Volunteer Survey Satisfaction Results.
Where can I learn more about Peace Corps The Gambia volunteer experiences?
PCV blogs and YouTube channels offer a unique look into the daily life of volunteers serving in The Gambia. These blogs and channels can help you understand the challenges and triumphs that come with being a volunteer. Explore these links for inspiring stories and practical advice from current and past volunteers.
Blog and YouTube Channel Links:
- Isabelle (Education) – 2022-24
- Jon (Agriculture) – 2022-24
- Shelby (Education) – 2022-24
- Campbell Martin (YouTube) – 2022-24
- Susan (Agriculture) – 2017-19
- Kate (Health) – 2015-17
- Kelsey (Health) – 2014-17
- Emily (Health) – 2015-17
If you’re interested in learning more about serving in The Gambia, I’ve got you covered! Click here to see all of my posts about Peace Corps The Gambia with details on the experience, culture, food, packing tips, and more.
How can I connect with Returned PCVs who served in The Gambia?
And where can I find official information about Peace Corps The Gambia?
- PeaceCorps.gov/The Gambia
- Projects in The Gambia
- Stories from The Gambia
- Preparing to Volunteer
- Living Conditions
- Training
- Health
- Safety and Security
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Packing Guidance
This is an old PC publication called “The Peace Corps Welcomes You to The Gambia“, published in 2013. In the past, before the internet, this is how volunteers learned more about The Gambia. Even though it is many years old, there is still a lot of good information there. You can download it here but remember it is just for informational purposes. For up-to-date information, always check with you Peace Corps contacts and staff.
Conclusion:
This blog post gave you lots of useful information to help decide if The Gambia is a good place for you to volunteer. You learned about Guyanese culture, languages, and development. We discussed important safety and health considerations for volunteers too. Also, we provided ways to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who served in The Gambia. To get more information about Peace Corps The Gambia, visit their website or explore the resources provided here. We hope this post has aided your search for information about volunteering with Peace Corps in The Gambia!
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or The Gambia Government.
Map by JRC, EU and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
