Nova Scotia Gambia Association

With support from UNFPA The Gambia, NSGA has launched its Adolescent Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) initiative in Jah K***a community of the Upper River Region. We are currently hosting a two-day training session for 20 out-of-school girls to enhance awareness and encourage the uptake of AYSRHR services. The training utilizes the Out of School Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) manual and covers a wide range of SRHR topics.

After completing the training, these girls will conduct community awareness efforts, focusing on adolescent girls to further spread knowledge.

With funding from UNFPA The Gambia, NSGA has launched its Adolescent Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) initiative in the Central River Region. Currently, we are in Boiram, conducting a two-day training for 20 out-of-school girls to raise awareness and promote AYSRHR service uptake. Using the Out of School Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) manual, the training covers a broad range of SRHR topics.

Upon completing the training, these girls will engage in community sensitization, focusing on adolescent girls to further spread awareness.

We are excited to announce that our training for the All-Girls Clubs has begun in the North Bank Region of The Gambia. Over the next two days, 30 dedicated girls from Ngayen Sanjal Senior Secondary School will participate in an extensive program on Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR). Funded by UNFPA The Gambia, this training covers essential topics such as contraceptive use and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

These young leaders are committed to spreading the knowledge they've gained to their peers, ensuring a broader impact on their community.

The NSGA, with funding from UNFPA The Gambia has commenced its AYSRHR engagements with the Out of School girls. We are currently at Niorro Jattaba, where we are conducting a two-day training for 20 out-of-school girls to raise awareness and promote AYSRHR service uptake. Using the Out of School CSE manual, the girls are being educated on a wide range of SRHR issues. Upon completion of the training, these girls will conduct sensitization activities in their communities, specifically focusing on adolescent girls.

Our training of the All-Girls Clubs continues at Panchang Senior Secondary School in the Central River Region of The Gambia. The two days activity targets 30 girls from the school for a comprehensive understanding of the Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR). The training funded by UNFPA The Gambia covers a variety of key issues among them;
• To understand the facts and myths around pregnancy and how to prevent pregnancy
• To know the different types of contraceptives
• To know about STIs and how to prevent oneself from contracting them or passing them on.
The 30 girls are committed to reaching out to their colleagues to share the knowledge gained.

With funds from UNFPA The Gambia We commenced trainings of All Girls Clubs on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) at Latrikunda German Upper Basic School. The 30 school girls are empowered on SRHR issues and rights.

Still on our school trainings, we are at Numuyel Upper and Senior School training our peer health educators on the importance of learning and teaching their peers and community members the importance of ending .

In our quest to End FGM with the next generation we are training students at Tahir Senior Sec. the important role they play as young people, that are expected to be future parents in ending the practice in their communities.

Our next stop is at St. Anthony’s Upper and Senior school, where we are training our Peer Health Educator’s on the:
✅Female reproductive system and the important role the cl****is plays in the female anatomy
✅ important role gender equality plays in ensuring we end FGM
✅ health complications of FGM

With support from UNICEF Gambia through The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations - TANGO we kick start Peer Health trainings in schools to train students on the importance of maintaining the ban on FGM in The Gambia. On today’s session at Penyem Senior Sec. school we are training the students on the types, reasons and legal implications attached to the practice in The Gambia.

With funds from the Expanded Program on Immunization of the Ministry of Health we commence a school sensitization on the importance of immunization at Brufut Upper & Senior Sec. School.

It is the primary responsibility of parents and duty bearers to protect children from all forms of violence. Stop 🛑 all harmful cultural practices today and protect the right of every Gambian child✋

We owe it to our girls to end and protect them from all the harm this practice exposes them to.

In the fight against everyone counts, including men/boys. Be reminded that FGM has no health benefits!

End FGM in The Gambia

It is with mixed feelings that we bid farewell to two of our senior drivers, who are retiring. Uncle Sanna and Sheikh have dedicated more than two decades of their lives serving NSGA with so much passion and perseverance. From the entire staff and management of NSGA we say a big thank you to Our uncles for the quality services they provided throughout their years of work. We wish them both a happy retirement life!

We met with club in Tahir SSS on our M&E visit. The members emphasized how thrilled they are to be given the opportunity to be part of the club. They explained that this has helped them a lot as young people to take initiatives and join the fight against and early marriage in The Gambia, which will go a long way in ensuring these practices are eradicated in the next generations.

On our M&E visit today, we are at Misera Basic Cycle School to monitor the impact empowerment camp has on the beneficiaries. According to the students the camp has really helped them learn some new things about FGM and the negative effects it has on girls.
They added that with the

knowledge gained from the camp, they have been mostly engaging their families and communities to ensure the practice is collectively stopped🛑 in Misera

Today we are at Pakalinding UBS to monitor school club established there and what impact it has on the students. Having interesting discussions with the members of the club where they disclosed some of the benefits they gained from the trainings conducted during the club’s formation.

They express their profound gratitude to UNICEF for funding such trainings that helps in boosting their self esteem and widening their knowledge on FGM and Child Marriage topics.

They added that they are now using the information gained from the training to further train their other colleagues in the school and even their communities on:
✔️What FGM is and the different types performed in The Gambia
✔️Health complications attached to Early marriage and FGM

With funds from as the head of its consortium on ending FGM in . We commence a monitoring and evaluation visit, to monitor our activities and other consortium partner’s activities of 2023.

Our first stop is at Bajana LBS, where we engaged beneficiaries of The Girl’s Agenda’s Girls Camp. In our discussions they highlighted that the camp was really educative and fun.
According to them they learnt the dangers of early marriage and FGM and this has really changed their perception.

Let’s break the cycle of FGM/C in The Gambia, by collectively saying NO to the practice.

Say NO NOW and protect the next generation of girls from the horrors of FGM/C!

The fight against FGM is a fight against human rights violations and this should be a concern for ALL including men!

Nobody is above the law and the law is clear on FGM!

Following the proceedings today, the bill is going to respective relevant committees of the National Assembly to consult communities and come up with a report of their findings
This does not mean the law is repealed, FGM is still banned, therefore illegal in The Gambia.

The following are some of the health complications women and girls go through as a result of FGM/C in The Gambia

They don’t need to go through all these, when we can just stop the practice.

Let’s prioritize the safety of women and girls over any cultural practice

Our current location!

We are here with the rest of the civil society coalition to stand with women and girls through these hard times, no matter what the outcome will be. We are praying the NAMs will do right by women and girls today.

Join us tomorrow at the National Assembly to show your solidarity

Addressing FGM needs a collaborative effort across various sectors, including the government, religious leaders, law enforcement agencies, and the community at large.
Join us tomorrow at the National Assembly. Let us all stand up to uphold the rights of women and girls.

According to UNICEF, 73% of women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 in The Gambia have undergone FGM. FGM robs women and girls of their freedom and dignity. It is time to reclaim our bodies, empower our choices, and end this harmful practice once and for all.

Dear NAMs,
As you will be making a decision regarding the Anti FGM law tomorrow we want to remind you that you have a responsibility to protect women and girls against harmful cultural practices.

As dedicated advocates, we wish to announce a press conference organized by the CSO Coalition against FGM. This event aims to address and clarify misinformation surrounding the harmful practice of FGM and its health implications. Join us at Paradise Suites Hotel.



AmplifyChange UNFPA The Gambia Global Fund for Women UNICEF Gambia UNDP The Gambia Vital Voices ActionAid International The Gambia Nova Scotia Gambia Association Network Against Gender Based Violence, the Gambia African Youth Commission - AYC YouthhubAfrica