The link between Marlborough and Gunjur has been sustained for over 30 years largely through voluntary activity at both ends
More than 1500 people have exchanged between our two communities since the link was set up in 1982, always living in each other's homes
Five Mayors of Marlborough have visited Gunjur and the Mayor (Alikali) of Gunjur has visited Marlborough
In a study of the impact of the link in Gunjur by Lilli Loveday in 2010 it was found that the most important impact perceived by a large cross section of the community was the changed relationship between women and men. Women and men reported that women had been empowered and given a self confidence through solidarity with women and girls visiting Gunjur from Marlborough and by visiting Marlborough themselves
In a study in Marlborough in 2007 conducted by the Department for International Development it was found that there was a greater knowledge of and support for the UK Government's international development programme from questioning 167 people at random on Marlborough High Street than in five other similar communities in the South of England
Many young people from Marlborough who have lived in Gunjur have gone on to work in the field of international development
Many young Gambians that came to Marlborough for training are now working in senior positions in Government, business, education or civil society in The Gambia
As a result of our development work with our partners TARUD, over 3000 children have been through pre-school education; there has been access to clean drinking water for the first time; 200 compound and public pit latrines have been built; the incidence of malaria has fallen dramatically; there is greater wealth in the community, particularly amongst women, through income generation programmes; Gunjur is a healthier community as a result of our health education programme particularly through the use of puppetry to demonstrate simple health education messages
In a study by Claire Gent it was found that Gunjur would reach the MDGs by 2015 whereas The Gambia as a whole would not reach all the MDGs
A pre-school curriculum has been developed with teachers in Gunjur which has now been accepted by the Gambian Government
The link between Marlborough and Gunjur has been sustained for over 30 years largely through voluntary activity at both ends
clean drinking water for the first time; 200 compound and public pit latrines have been built; the incidence of malaria has fallen dramatically; there is greater wealth in the community, particularly amongst women, through income generation programmes; Gunjur is a healthier community as a result of our health education programme particularly through the use of puppetry to demonstrate simple health education messages