business and tourism training in The Gambia (ED)

Location: Gambia
Project type: education support
Price from: £1076.00 - details below

Share your education and training skills to help local people build better livelihoods and business opportunities for themselves. Volunteer with an internationally recognised tourism college to help create local wealth, through trade not aid.

Skills required

We work closely with the local people who manage this project, and they have identified their primary volunteer needs as follow:

training the trainers
tourism and hospitality industry experience
small business development skills
alternative technologies
product design, sales and marketing
accountancy, book keeping, IT
website design and development
report writing for fundraising and research

Main project details

Tourism offers much-needed income to poor countries. But who gets the holiday money? This project supports an award winning training college, helping students and SMEs to gain a livelihood through trade, not aid.

"The students were used to presenting either one-on-one or verbally to small groups with flip chart resources, so it was a basic introduction to effectively using the software and delivering short, punchy presentations backed up by good delivery and post-presentation handouts. As The Gambia experiences frequent power cuts I didn't want to make them too reliant on technology alone. You can't be a shrinking violet as a volunteer, and you have to play both a PR role and a leadership role in order to get down to the nitty gritty and get your job done!" Volunteer, Claire

The Institute of Travel and Tourism in The Gambia (ITTOG) teaches and facilitates some skills-based experiential learning courses designed to provide students with the specialist skills required to work in a specific area of employment and to mentor them as they become independent earners, as well as teaching some formal, classroom-based courses in aspects of travel and tourism leading to formal qualifications.

Skills-based courses focus on areas such as culinary skills, performing arts and event management, and lead trainees through the process from students to independent earners, through college-based skills and business courses, work experience and mentoring support as trainees enter employment and become independent earners and/or set up their own associations.

ITTOG provides accredited training courses in travel and tourism-related subjects, ranging from Higher Professional Diplomas to tour guiding or cabin crew and airport certificates, priding themselves in the diversity of learning opportunities they offer. All courses focus on the concept of Responsible Tourism and how to make destinations better places to live in, and better places to visit, in that order. ITTOG is partnered with Central College Nottingham in the UK, and their courses are accredited by Central College as well as by the National Accreditation Quality Assurance Authority of The Gambia. One of ITTOG's key focuses is their belief in the power of entrepreneurship, and they work closely with and provide support for many local tourism-related businesses and community tourism initiatives.

Depending on their skills and experience, volunteers will help to develop the capacity of ITTOG in a variety of ways. You may be based at the college, helping to develop course modules and materials, train teachers and students and/or run courses for local businesses. You may work online to help develop the skills of individuals or small groups in areas where they have requested support. Or you may focus on one of the skills-based courses, helping to develop experiential teaching and learning strategies such as the use of case studies and role-play to provide trainees with useful guidance as they enter employment. Volunteer opportunities are many and varied in this project. Whatever your skills, you are needed to help make tourism an even greater force for good in The Gambia.

You can also volunteer on this project from home through our e-volunteer programme. For more information about e-volunteering click here.

To learn more about how the volunteer programme works with this project read more here

Context

The Gambia is one of the smallest and poorest countries in the world. It is also one of the friendliest - perhaps the most attractive "real" Africa to visit. Gambians demonstrate a genuine warmth and tolerance for other cultures. This may be the perfect place for first time travellers to Africa.

Most of the population survives on subsistence agriculture, mainly livestock rearing and groundnut cultivation. Groundnut is the main cash crop but efforts to diversify have brought in sesame growing, which is predominantly grown by women. Rice is the staple food but the country has not yet reached self-sufficiency in rice production thus leading to huge imports of this commodity. In addition to agriculture, tourism is an important source of foreign exchange as well as of employment.

Life expectancy is just 62 and approximately 65% of the population is under 25. The social fabric of The Gambia is based on family networks often stretching into neighbouring countries where the extended family takes responsibility for the well-being and maintenance of the family. According to the 1998 Participatory Poverty Assessments, 69% of the 1.8 million population live in poverty and 30% live in extreme poverty. Women and youths are classified the poorest of the poor.

In spite of its multi-ethnic and multi-lingual characteristics occasioned by the existence of five main ethnic groups (Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola and Serahule) and a similar number of minority groups there is 'unity in diversity' because of similar structures in the communal lifestyles. Islam is the predominant religion with 95% of the population being Muslim; Christians account for the remainder and a few practise traditional religions. One common strand among ethnic groups is patriarchy where male dominance is common.

"Gambian hospitality is overwhelming - I spent 3 months there, volunteering, a few years ago. (It's where we conceived people and places - read more) - what little people had they wanted to share with me. I'm so excited to be working with ASSERT, I was in the Gambia shortly after its launch. The founding team are inspirational - it does important work and I know that volunteers can, with skills share, help local people generate enough wealth to care for themselves and their family . . . and in the Gambia the family is all. " Sallie Grayson people and places programme director

Volunteer opportunities are many and varied with this award-winning college - small business skills, IT and administration experience, tourism & training skills, alternative technology, product design and marketing - all these skills and more will be welcome in this volunteer project. Whether you are in work and looking for a career break, or already retired, you can share your skills and experience with local small business owners and market gardeners. Take a look at the list of needs, as identified by the project, near the top of this page. You can play your part in responsible volunteer projects abroad.

Minimum duration

4 weeks is an optimum length of time, but placements can be designed for as little as 2 weeks to a maximum stay of 3 months according to volunteer input.

Living Conditions

You will live in a secure apartment within a family compound. Your appartment will have a small kitchen enabling you to cater for yourself. There are supermarkets and restaurants nearby. All apartments have TV, Wifi, fans and shower room. There is the option of air conditioning at an additional cost.

If you would prefer to stay in a small hotel or have access to a pool we have various other accommodation options we can share with you.

Project costs

From £1076 for 4 weeks single volunteer in studio apartment - NB reductions apply for double occupancy

Read about our costs and pricing policy here

Watch an explanatory interview with programme director Sallie Grayson

Returning volunteers will receive a 25% reduction in project management and matching fees

Additional weeks are costed at a sliding reducing rate - please ask for details

Please note these costs are correct to the best of our knowledge but can only be confirmed at time of booking due to changes in transport and taxes outside our control.

Included: self catering apartment, airport transfers, full local orientation, city tour, social event, local SIM card (not including data), project & placement liaison.

Your contribution will fund the work of the programme and purchase the materials you may need.

How your money is spent based on 4 weeks:

£336 - direct costs in The Gambia (airport transfers, accommodation, orientation)

£280 - project management, liaison & supervision in The Gambia

£200 - project contribution in The Gambia

£260 - recruitment, matching & project development in UK

Not included: flights, insurance, visa costs, daily travel if needed, personal expenses such as phone calls, data packages for smartphones, medical expenses, etc..

Meals: an allowance of £10-£15 per day should be more than sufficient...depending on your tastes!

If you or your friends and family wish to make further donations to this project please contact us at sallie@travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk