Non-Profit Leadership

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About GambiaHELP

Location:

1014 C Avenue S, Edmonds, WA 98020, US

Mission Statement

We are a 501 (c)(3) organization that was founded to assist women and children in The Gambia, West Africa in areas of health and education. Our focus is in providing safe drinking water, the development of sustainable small businessfor women, funding education for girls and the building of schools, libraries, skill centers and cereal banks. The Executive Director travels to The Gambia, West Africa annually for two months to implement projects, collect proposals and evaluate projects when completed. Oftentimes, volunteers travel to The Gambia to assist with projects. We use a grassroots approach to development work - all ideas and recommendations come from the villagers. We serve as a catalyst by training villagers how to access resources, write project development proposals and formulate working committees that advocate on their behalf before funders and project facilitators.

Description

We are a non-profit based in Edmonds, Washington. We were founded in 1999 through the efforts of Shelby C. Tarutis, MPH who worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the country in 1980 - 1981. She speaks Mandinka and works with a group of Gambians in-country to supervise and monitor projects and funding. In Seattle, Gambia Health Education Liaison Project volunteers raise funds through engaging activities and events.

We use funds collected in the USA and through grants/foundations to dig wells, develop vegetable/fruit gardens, raise poultry to increase cash availability for child education, build libraries and to send a container each year full of computers, bicycles, books, clothing, bookcases, school supplies and backpacks. These items are gathered through donation drives and special gathering events.