Because of you…
An improving economy has ushered in the influences of the Western Culture. Gambian youth are abandoning traditional family values, choosing to adopt the lifestyles and attitudes that are seen on TV, in movies, and hip-hop music videos.
Youth for Christ desires to raise up a new generation of Christian young people that will lead their peers into a lifestyle of godliness. Volunteers teach Christian Religious Education in 7 schools on a weekly basis.
Other current ministry activities include weekly fellowships in 4 villages, sports ministry, quarterly Leadership Training retreats, “Worth The Wait” abstinence training, and summer camp. Plans to start two more weekly fellowships and a Discipleship School are currently underway in up-country villages.
Prayer Needs
- Increase in harvest through evangelism team’s outreach program
- Increase in laborers as the team expands the school ministry into more locations
- Peace and tranquility and freedom of religion in the country
- Salvation of the leaders of households, as the entire family will follow
- Wisdom in starting a sustainable business to provide reliable income to fund the ministry
About Gambia
Gambia, The
Introduction
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2006.
Geography
Location
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic Coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Area
Total Area: 11,295 sq km Rank: 166
Land Area: 10,000 sq km
Water Area: 1,295 sq km
Comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land Boundaries: 740 km
Bordering Countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevations
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest Point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural Resources
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land Use
Arable land: 27.88%
Permanent Crops: 0.44%
Other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated Land: 20 sq km (2003)
Renewable Water Resources: 8 cu km (1982)
Total Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
Freshwater Withdrawal Per Capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Environment
Natural Hazards: drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environmental Issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environmental Agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography Notes
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
People
Population: 1,778,081 (July 2010 est.) Rank: 148
Age Structure
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 389,877/female 386,218)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 472,216/female 479,595)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 24,985/female 25,190) (2010 est.)
Median Age: 17.9 years
Population Growth
Growth Rate: 2.589% (2010 est.) Rank: 28
Birth Rate: 37.8 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 24
Death Rate: 12.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Rank: 33
Net Migration Rate: 0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 66
Urbanization
Urban Population: 57% of total population (2008)
Rate of Urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Life and Death
Infant Mortality Rate: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births Rank: 26
Life Expectancy at Birth: 53.81 years Rank: 200
Fertility Rate: 4.96 children born/woman (2010 est.) Rank: 26
Health and Disease
HIV/AIDS - Adult Prevalence Rate: 0.9% (2007 est.) Rank: 55
People living with HIV/AIDS: 8,200 (2007 est.) Rank: 111
HIV/AIDS Deaths: 600 (2003 est.) Rank: 81
Degree of Risk for Major Infectious Diseases: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne Diseases: malaria
Water Contact Diseases: schistosomiasis
Respiratory Disease: meningococcal meningitis
Animal Contact Diseases: rabies (2009)
Nationality and Culture
Noun: Gambian(s)
Adjective: Gambian
Ethnic Groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religion: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Education
Literacy (Meaning, age 15 and over can read and write): 40.1% Male: 47.8% Female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): 7 years Male: 7 years Female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures: 2% of GDP (2004) Rank: 166
Government
Country Name
Conventional Long Form: Republic of The Gambia
Conventional Short Form: The Gambia
Government Type: republic
Capital: Banjul Geographic Coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
Administrative divisions
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution: approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the junta; Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of Government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
Election Results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%
Legislative Branch
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Politics
Political Parties and Leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia
Other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals
International Organization Participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Flag Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
Economy
Economy Overview: The Gambia has sparse natural resource deposits and a limited agricultural base, and relies in part on remittances from workers overseas. About three-quarters of the population depends on the agricultural sector for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. The Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of the larger markets for tourism in West Africa, boosted by government and private sector investments in eco-tourism and upscale facilities. In the past few years, the Gambia's re-export trade - traditionally a major segment of economic activity - has declined, but its banking sector has grown rapidly. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain high; economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, and on continued technical assistance from multilateral and bilateral donors.
Gross Domestic Product
GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.42 billion (2009 est.) Rank: 179
GDP - real growth rate: 5.2% (2009 est.) Rank: 26
GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,400 (2009 est.) Rank: 201
GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 30.4% Industry: 14.3% Services: 55.3% (2009 est.)
Labor Force
Labor Force: 777,100 (2007) Rank: 146
Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture: 75% Industry: 19% Services: 6% (1996)
Unemployment Rate: NA
Poverty
Population below poverty line: NA
Transnational Issues
International Disputes: attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states
Refugees and internally displaced persons - refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)
