| The Gambia |
 AHEAD's projects and programs in The Gambia serve the rapidly growing youth population in urban and rural areas. AHEAD has provided support for adolescent skills development since 1993. Projects are designed to empower youth with knowledge and skills that will help them make wise life choices. Gambian youth are exposed to information on HIV/AIDS, addictive substances prevention, environmental awareness, health and fitness, first aid training, and community development. The youth share their knowledge and skills in various creative ways with other village and town residents, thus creating a better-informed society. Community projects, such as refurbishing a well, repairing school furniture, painting school buildings, are essential components of the youth development program. AHEAD Volunteers give support to the program by visiting schools and villages. They encourage youth to participate in the program and accompany them on expeditions. AHEAD has also provided scholarships to students who wish to participate in the program. Youth from various parts of the country come together to participate in this residential camp. They undertake intensive community service projects; participate in sports, recreational activities, cultural and historical trips. Serving as camp coordinators, AHEAD Volunteers conduct leadership workshops on topics such as life planning, conflict management, adolescent health issues, communication and study skills. The Youth Leadership Camp includes an academic component, providing assistance in literacy and math for campers. A group of women from five villages in The Gambia, Kerewan, Kerr Cherno, Jarra Toniataba, Kalagi and Sangajor, discovered that the sun can be a source of energy for cooking, using a reflective panel and a black pot. A workshop was held in each village to teach the principles of solar cooking, how to construct a simple cooker, cook meals, and how to purify contaminated water. The women, working in teams, constructed the cooker out of card board and aluminum foil, then cooked a meal of rice, fish and vegetables. The potential for solar cooking is great and there is no smoke or fumes generated. He added that, pots do not have to be stirred and no money is spent on fire wood, indicating that cooking food only depends on the appearance of the sun. The women were amazed and pleased at the outcome. For some it was a new technology with a promise of being very useful. For others, it was a way of saving time and money. And for a few, it was a way to help conserve our precious natural resources. Malcolm Gee, AHEAD Education Director, implored the women who were trained to teach the technique to others in their community and other areas as they have skills and desires to improve their lives. They have a useful skill and desire to improve life for themselves and the whole of The Gambia.
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AHEAD USA >> P.O Box 2049 | Rockville, MD | 20847-2049 
AHEAD Tanzania >> P. O. Box 28078 | Kisarawe, Coast Region | Tanzania