- Non-profit organization
- Voluntary organization
- Public benefit organization/li>
- Public benefit organization
- Foundation
Gambiagrupperna (GG) is a Swedish, non-partisan and religiously independent organization that supports local organizations for a just, equitable and sustainable development in Gambia. Gambia is one of the world’s poorest countries, lacking natural resources and having widespread illiteracy, with rural areas particularly affected.
In Sweden, the Gambia Groups consist of approximately 300 individual members and 16 local groups. While these groups inform about the need for development assistance in Gambia, they also raise money for their own funds required to be granted ForumCiv funding and other aid projects initiated by Gambian partners. A board (SOG – Coordination Group) is appointed and elected by the GG’s annual members’ meeting (Consultation Meeting).
GG started its operations in 1978 and became an independent, international NGO in 1983 under the name Future In Our Hands (FIOH ) in Gambia. The organization’s goal was to improve access to education for children, as there were very few schools at the time, especially in rural Gambia.
The Gambia groups/FIOH expanded over the years and have built more than 300 schools, school kitchens, toilets and staff rooms. In the early 2000s, initiatives were taken to further thematic areas such as women’s cooperatives, the environment and teacher training, especially literacy.
On 1 January 2013, FIOH was phased out. The Construction Unit (CTU) which took over the established operations of FIOH, has since been an independent unit in the new independent organization named Future In Our Hands The Gambia (FIOHTG) . CTU is now strong enough to stand on its own and has no funds coming from Sweden and the Gambia groups. They now build schools and other premises for the schools for other NGOs such as the MRC Holland Foundation as well as UNICEF and the World Bank.
So… What is the purpose of having CTU as an independent unit within FIOHTG?
When CTU hands over a contract assignment for a school to be built, it is possible to include other values such as youth education. In each project, six local youth (three boys, three girls) will be interns in the construction industry.
All designers who will work on the project are called to workshops to ensure they are united and know how to oversee the project.
All designers are trained in human rights, democracy and gender.
All staff working at the project site must sign a code of conduct to protect the people in the village. No one should exploit the vulnerable people living in poverty in rural areas.
