Gunjur Community Link

The Gunjur Community Link (GCL) came into operation in the summer of 2013 through a democratic process in the community, taking over from the old Gunjur Link Committee which had been responsible for the link exchange programme for the previous 30 years. The executive committee of the GCL is made up of seven highly effective professional people, women and men amongst whom there is representation by minority tribal groups. 

Trust Agency for Rural Development (TARUD)

In the Gambia, MBG's principle development partner is the NGO TARUD. Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery in 1997 TARUD was formed and oversees the integrated development programme in Gunjur with responsibility for pre-school education, water and sanitation, women's livelihoods, health education, microcredit etc. MBG supports TARUD through core funding and raising funds for its different projects and by providing advice and support. TARUD delivers a micro-finance programme in Gunjur overseen by United Purpose and part funded by MBG. 

TARUD is recognised as one of the leading indigenous NGOs in The Gambia.

Contact Baai Jaabang - Director: info.tarud@gmail.com

Venture Force

Venture Force is an expedition provider based in Scotland which has partnered with MBG since 2016 to run trips to Gunjur for both students and adults. Venture Force currently runs the MBG Summer Trip, St. James's Place volunteer trips and student trips for Raise Gambia. The mos recent trip to Gunjur with Venture Force took place in August 2023.

Project Gambia

Pre-school activities are now delivered through our partners Project Gambia, chaired by long time MBG volunteer and previous trustee Anita Bew MBE. MBG has supported them for many years specifically funding professional teacher education and qualifications.

Disability Africa

In 2011 we invited Ric Law the Director of Disability Africa to Gunjur where he has now set up, with TARUD, the very successful Gunjur Inclusion Project, which is identifying and exposing disabled young people in the community in many cases for the first time as there are often prevailing attitudes towards disability including witchcraft and devilry. A volunteer-run play scheme for disabled young people is bringing these children to play and giving them access to educational and health services.

Thriving Through Venture

Thriving Through Venture was established in 2016 by Caro Strober, an educational psychologist, with support from Dr Nick Maurice to support the challenges faced by young people today as they move into adulthood. The charity looks to change the direction of young people's lives through connected projects in the UK and Gunjur. 

Kombo Sillah Association

The Kombo Sillah Association (KSA) is a Gambian diaspora organisation in UK based in Bristol with whom MBG has a close relationship. KSA's prime purpose is to support Gambians in UK who are experiencing difficulties but they also support development at home in The Gambia, such as supporting a summer school extra tuition programme for students and supplying resources, for example, hospital beds for the clinic in Gunjur.

We are currently exploring with KSA the potential for them to provide educational visits for students from St John's and Marlborough College to learn about the diversity of Bristol and some of the problems that face refugees and asylum seekers.

United Purpose

Formally Concern Universal, United Purpose (UP) is a large international development charity and runs the Business Development programme in Gunjur through TARUD. 

After three years of running the programme MBG handed over delivery to UP but continue to provide part funding alongside the main donor, St. James's Place.

Gunjur Project Association and Lodge

Established in 2006, The Gunjur Project Association is a UK charity operating full time in Gunjur.  They support a range of ground level, local sustainable programmes in education, health and the environment. They specifically support MBG with education grants and provide accommodation and support to volunteers in country.

Raise Gambia

Raise Gambia is a ground breaking charity improving the life chances of rural students in The Gambia by developing practical science lessons for schools. The charity supports a school science laboratory in Sifoe near Gunjur, where students from Marlborough can work with local students and teachers from around The Gambia can receive training.

MBG has recently provided Raise Gambia with a grant to run a 2023 summer school to help pupils with success in their school examinations and further study of STEM subjects at a higher level.

Former Partner Organisations

Building Understanding through International Links for Development (BUILD)

The work of MBG was the inspiration behind BUILD; founded in 2002 in response to the growing interest in the development of community-based partnerships between communities in UK and in the Global South (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America) and the impact they have on personal, professional and community development at both ends of the partnership.

Dr Nick Maurice is the Founder Trustee of BUILD.

GOWLA

In 2002 MBG, in collaboration with local Gambians set up GOWLA (Gambian One World Linking Association) which is the umbrella organisation for school and community partnerships with counterparts in Europe particularly the UK.

Forbes Trust

In 1995 we introduced Lord Bhatia, Director of the Forbes Trust to Gunjur and he generously supported the development of early childhood education and the Forbes Trust loan scheme in Gunjur which gave microcredit to small enterprises not least women entrepreneurs.

UKOWLA

In 1985 MBG was one of the founder organisations involved in the creation of UKOWLA (UK One World Linking Organisation) an umbrella organisation for communities (towns, schools, faith groups, health care institutions) that have partners in the Global South.

WasteAid

WasteAid has had a presence in The Gambia since 2015, and in 2018 received grant funding from UKAid to run a two-year plastics recycling programme in Gunjur, working with TARUD. The project captured plastic waste from Gunjur and turned it into useful products, including low-cost, durable paving tiles, to stop it reaching the ocean. UKAid funding ended in 2020, however in a joint agreement between WasteAid, MBG and St. James’s Place, funding was agreed for two more years, allowing WasteAid to continue their important work into 2022.