Strategy

MBG promotes international understanding and education through linking and working with people in Marlborough, UK and Gunjur, The Gambia, and their wider communities:

  • We strive to treat all people equally and with mutual respect.

  • We seek to ensure that the people of the two communities will benefit each other.

  • We encourage behaviour that leads to sustainability.

MBG seeks the following outcomes:

  • A link with Gunjur which contributes to the personal, professional and community development of people in both communities.

  • A community in Gunjur in which people are less constrained by poor education and health, lack of access to basic commodities and have access to better educational, health facilities and employment, opportunities for independent wealth creation and ultimately greater control over their lives.

  • Increasing global awareness amongst the diverse population of Marlborough and Gunjur and their surrounding communities.

  • Continue the exchange of people both young and old between the communities of Marlborough and Gunjur recognising the life changing opportunity that this provides.

    Work, when opportunities arise, with the Gambian community in UK, particularly the Kombo Sillah Association in Bristol to support MBG's diverse programme.

    Support local businesses to have the opportunity to send employees to Gunjur to work in partnership with the Gunjur Community Link to deliver community projects selected by the village.

  • We will continue to support a development programme in and around Gunjur by collaborating with and supporting TARUD through the provision of human and financial resources and through advice and guidance and through the introduction of TARUD to other agencies working in the development field. This will take place within an agreed strategy between MBG and TARUD and during the period of this MBG strategy, regular face to face meetings will take place with TARUD to achieve this.

    We support other charities and community organisations local to Gunjur which meet our charity objectives with grants.

  • Target students from St. John's Academy, Marlborough College and in the local area and provide opportunities for them to visit Gunjur both through MBG and other charities we support.

    Run a series of lectures by specialists in the field of international development with one key annual Marlborough Brandt Lecture by a prominent person in this field.

  • Maintain a website as a source of up to date information about the work of MBG to newcomers and members.

    A regular newsletter linked to the website will be produced for members and firends.

    Opportunities will be found to publicise the work of MBG more widely using traditional and online social media.

    Publicising the work of MBG will be central to all fundraising activities.

    Invitations will be issued to key members of the Marlborough community to visit Gunjur to understand at first hand the work of MBG and partners in The Gambia.

    We will respond to invitations to present our work at lectures, workshops etc.

  • We will engage with local, national and international politicians to continue to give them an understanding of the role of the Marlborough Gunjur link in contributing to development priorities and global education. We encourage politicians to visit Gunjur to get first-hand experience of the role that community links can play in the development process and the contribution they can make to the MDGs.

    Prior to national and European elections we will continue to invite candidates from the different political parties to a 'Question Time' debate on international development and Britain/Europe's role.

    Attend meetings and collaborate with other linking organisations under the umbrella of UKOWLA.