Linking

MBG trips are now delivered by Venture Force. You can visit their website here.

In 1982 MBG established a link with the Muslim fishing community of Gunjur in The Gambia, West Africa, and since then there has been a steady flow of over 2,000 people between Marlborough and Gunjur.

MBG traditionally looks to place volunteers with host families and adult volunteers can still do this.  Students now stay in the village community centre at the heart of the Gunjur. We believe that it is this level of cultural embedding that is fundamental to gaining a deeper understanding of our different cultures and communities.

MBG volunteers on linking trips have supported many programmes, alongside young people in the Gunjur community, including the construction of a five classroom block for the primary school, the TARUD pre-school, a fence around a 12 acre vegetable garden, a skills training centre, the renovation of a classroom block in the Islamic School and the construction of a central market place to enable women to sell their vegetables, fish and meat sheltered from the sun and rain.

Anita Bew has been coordinating link exchanges between the UK and The Gambia for over 35 years and Alex Davies has supported trips since 2004. We have developed some very strong relationships with a wide range of people in the Gunjur community. Since 2017 we have worked with Venture Force, a small professional expedition provider who match our charitable views and ambitions.  Venture Force provide all of the logistics, health and safety and professional leaders for group trips to Gunjur. Over 40 Years of experience, and a strong and dedicated team both here in the UK and in The Gambia, ensure that your group trip in Gunjur will be a lifetime experience that will continue to benefit your personal and professional development.

The Gunjur Community Link (GCL) is responsible for the overall hosting of students and volunteers during their stay in the village and gathers the volunteers from around the village to support the group projects. The GCL will often run projects on behalf of the Gunjur community.  The Embassy and the Ambassador in Banjul are fully aware of our project and give us their full support. 

MBG works closely with the NGO TARUD (Trust Agency for Rural Development) which manages a number of development projects in Gunjur including health education, water and sanitation, women's literacy, malaria eradication and women's livelihoods. Voluntary work placements or community projects will either be overseen by TARUD or the Gunjur Community Link (GCL) depending on what project or you decide to do.

Local experts in the Gunjur Community Link

  • Essa Sumareh

    Essa has been involved with the Community Link since 2003 and has held a formal Public Relations Officer role since 2016.

  • Lamin (Wiki) Bojang

    Also known as ‘tall Lamin’, he has been involved in the link since the age of 10 and more formally from 2003 supporting visiting groups.

  • Bouba D. Touray

    The Liaison Officer of the Gunjur Community Link (GCL); setting up community projects in consultation with the community and GCL.

  • Mr. Ousman Touray

    Mr. Touray is the Chairperson of the GCL and of the Gunjur Youth Business and Development Programme (GYBDP).