American Corner, The Gambia

The Study in the U.S.A. Virtual Fair is tomorrow. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time.

Secure your spot here: https://tinyurl.com/USfair25b

Study in the U.S.A. Virtual Fair.

Sign up now. Registration remains open through the end of the fair.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/USfair25b

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish all those observing this holiday a happy and joyous celebration.

In observance of Thanksgiving, a federal holiday in the United States, the American Corners in Bundung and Fajara will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

Regular operations will resume on Friday, November 28, 2025.

Thank you for your understanding. Wishing you a season filled with gratitude and togetherness.

Due to the lapse in appropriations, this Facebook account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information.

And just like that, it’s a wrap!

The two-week Upcycling and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp has successfully equipped 25 eco-entrepreneurs, artisans, and craft workers with critical business and creative skills.

During Week 1, participants gained tools to strengthen their businesses and refine market-ready upcycled products, through sessions on design thinking, financial literacy, pitching, storytelling, and marketing.

Week 2 was hands-on, with participants developing and testing their prototypes, finalizing business models, and rehearsing their pitches.

It all came together on the Final Showcase & Pitch Day, where participants presented their business ideas, displayed their upcycled products, and connected with customers and investors. This collaborative process has helped to foster connections between startups, artisans, NGOs, and potential investors, laying the foundation for a support network that will continue beyond the bootcamp.

Congratulations to Binta J. Jarju, winner of the pitching session!

A huge thank you to our facilitators and judges, and to the Gambia Tourism Board for their invaluable support.

This bootcamp has shown how passion, skill, and the right support can open doors for a new generation of sustainable entrepreneurs in The Gambia.

Day 5 of the Upcycling and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

On Friday we wrapped up the week with a session on marketing strategy, led by Mr. Alassan Kah.

Participants learned the basics, understanding their audience, building a brand, and figuring out the best way to sell and promote their products. They also explored how social media and digital tools can help their businesses reach more people.

In the practical session, participants got to try their hand at creating their own marketing strategies, defined target customers, and planned how to show off their products effectively.

Marketing isn’t magic, it’s about planning and connecting with the right people.

Follow along to see how these inspiring entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.

Day 4 of the Upcycling and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

Today, the spotlight was on pitching and storytelling for entrepreneurs, led by Mr. Abdoulie D. Bah, Executive Director of the African Youth Entrepreneurship Academy.

Participants learned why pitching is important and what makes a strong pitch. They practised putting together problem statements, solutions, and showing progress in a clear and compelling way.

Our entrepreneurs got to work shaping personal, business, and customer stories to make their pitches memorable and authentic.

The day finally ended with practice and feedback, helping participants build the confidence to present their ideas with clarity and passion.

Behind every product is a story, and we can't wait to see how these entrepreneurs share theirs.

Day 3 of the Upcycling and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

The spotlight today was on financial literacy and profit planning, with sessions led by Mr. Abdoulie D. Bah, Executive Director of the African Youth Entrepreneurship Academy.

Participants explored why financial literacy matters, learned how to read financial statements, manage cash flow, and set clear financial goals. They also dug into pricing strategies, profit planning, and break-even analysis to understand what it really takes for a business to stay sustainable.

We then wrapped up by practicing turning costs and revenues into a simple profit plan, building the skills to make smarter decisions and grow businesses with confidence.

Practical tools, financial know-how, and a stronger foundation for local entrepreneurs. Follow along to see how they put these lessons into practice.

Day 2 of the Upcycling and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

Day 2 was all about creativity in action, learning the 5 steps of design thinking, turning waste into prototypes, and working in teams to build, test, and refine ideas.

Participants were taken through a design thinking and problem-solving session where they explored each step of the process, created prototypes, and put their ideas to the test.

With only limited waste materials, teams were challenged to design something useful or fun. Using the design thinking framework, they came up with clever, practical inventions and tested them right away.

Skills in action, ideas taking shape, and new ways to grow local businesses.

Stay tuned to see how waste transforms into innovation.

Day 1 at the Upcycling & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.

For the next two weeks, 25 young creatives and business minds will be learning how to turn waste into marketable products, build stronger brands, and sharpen their money and pitching skills.

It’s all about giving local talent the tools to grow real businesses while pushing The Gambia’s circular economy forward.

Follow along to see what they create.

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Day 4 of the Empower! Leadership Camp

Mastering Public Speaking, owning your voice and using it to inspire action.

For this session, we explored what public speaking really is, why it matters, and how to share a message in a way that connects.

Our young leaders worked on shaping clear, engaging speeches, keeping their audience tuned in, and finding simple ways to calm nerves so they could speak with confidence.

Big thanks to Fatoumata Ceesay, Strategic Communications Specialist at U.S. Embassy Banjul, The Gambia, for guiding such a hands-on, encouraging session that left everyone a little braver and a lot more prepared to use their voice.

With every lesson, the spark gets brighter, and we’re far from done.