Gambia

The Gambia YMCA is a Christian Charitable Association. At its centre are Christians who, regard Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, desire to share their faith with others. We welcome into our fellowship persons of other religious faith and those of no particular religious conviction on the world-wide fellowship of the equal value of all persons. Our programs are based on respect and freedom for all, tolerance and understanding between different opinions and are open to everyone regardless of race, sex or creed.

Community Development Safe Drinking Water Skills Training Horticulture & Agriculture Poultry Farming Adult Literacy Day Care Centres Co-operative Shop

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. Population: 1,778,081 (July 2009 est.) 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) (2009 est.) Birth Rate: 37.8 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) Death Rate: 12.21 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) Infant mortality Rate: total: 68.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 26 male: 74.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 62.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) Life Expectancy: total population: 53.81 years country comparison to the world: 200 male: 52.05 years female: 55.62 years (2009 est.) HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 0.9% (2007 est.) HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 8,200 (2007 est.) HIV/AIDS – deaths: 600 (2003 est.) Ethnic Groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census) Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2% Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.1% male: 47.8% female: 32.8% (2003 est.) Government Type: republic Capital: Banjul Geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: Dalasis (GMD) Population below poverty line: NA% Transnational Issues: Disputes – international: 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) **Information retreived from CIA – The World Factbook: www.cia.gov

National General Secretary: John Charles Njie, jcnjie@ymca.gm National Council of The Gambia YMCA P O Box 421 Banjul THE GAMBIA Tel: 220 – 392 647 Fax: 220 – 390 793 Email: ymca@ymca.gm