IRFF UK: Introducing Gambian Girl's Empowerment and Skills Project to Mobile, Alabama — Edward Hartley

Margret Orr who resides in the USA, an IRFF UK trustee, had the opportunity to introduce the Gambian Girl’s Empowerment and Skills Project (GESTP) at an International Festival on Nov 17th-19th in Mobile, Alabama, USA.

GESTP was started in 2022 in Sukuta, Gambia. It is a 5-month training programme for 25 girls in tie and dye, batik skills as well as business and computer skills. The purpose is to empower and give young women vocational skillsets to help progress their futures and reach their full potential.

Since the completion of the first cohort, some of the garments made by cohort 1 were brought to Alabama and were displayed in the form of a fashion show at a festival in Mobile as well as on a “Gambia” stand manned by Margret. The project was very well received and people inquired about the possibility of sponsoring the girls in their education.

After a successful first cohort, IRFF UK is aiming to run two cohorts a year. The project is gaining a reputation and girls from other towns near Sukuta have shown an interest to participate. The participants for the second cohort have already been selected. This project will continue into 2023 and beyond.

The project comes at a cost of $250 per girl for each cohort. The second cohort has already been financed, however, so we are looking for continued support for their graduation ceremony and for next year’s participants. We also have the goal of possible expansion to a second location with a second team.

Your support would mean the world to these girls, empowering these young women to not only become independent and self-sufficient but also to gain more opportunities to contribute to their country.

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Girl’s EmpowermeAt an Skill’s Training

Provid ing you ng wome n w ith an opportu nity for education , a skillset and a brighter fu ture in the tow n of Suku ta , and neigh bou ring towns .

Q I VUUd Heserve

The Project Foret Classee de Mbegue SEN EGA Sukuta Town in Kombo North District, Gambia. This 0 Reserve Sylvo- Pastorale du region of Gambia is very poor. Many young women Sine-Saloum lack access to education and therefore have no ability for financial independence. They have no option but to marry at an early age. Fa Mah The ‘Girl’s Empowerment and Skill’s Training Project’ plans to renovate an existing buil ding into a multipurpose facility which can enable the education of young women in this community and nearby IKUTA commun ities. The goal is not only to provide practical skills to the young women but also mentoring in entrepreneurship and character education . 0 0 srikama Foret de Pata

Fundraising Aims and Partners r- - 0 Foret du Guimara

IRFF UK is raising £6500 which will be used for the Kolda materials for the renovation and also the program 0

cost for the first four months. Camance ,------------ IRFF’s partners are the Village Development FL _,,.’ Ziguinchorf / Committee of Sukuta Town and The Gambia Project, a /’ /

US based c harity. This first four month phase plans to ✓- cache~- — --,,.,,,… / 0 provide skills training, entrepreneursh ip , character ----nrf education, and simple accounting for 25 young Rio Cacheu Mangroves women. Natural Park

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Sustainability of the Project

The goal is to develop this into a self-sustaining program within a year and expand it to other communities. The Village Development Committee of Sukuta is committed to a sustainability plan to assure the continuation of the project without external help, thus assuring the main objective to provide not only a temporary remedy but to enable sustainable development and expansion.

Details on the building procedure

The Village Development Committee is providing a multipurpose centre with space for c lasses and hands-on ski lls training, meetings, and cultural activities. The Village Development Committee is constructing the fencing, and supp lying a whiteboard and some tab les. As we supply materials the Sukuta Skilled Men Association will provide free labor to install running water, sewerage, and toi let booths.

Please donate and help Gambian young women have an educatio n and a brighter future.

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