Recently Green World Activists Foundation-The Gambia was proudly represented by CEO Abdoulie Jallow and Treasurer Jainaba M Jallow at the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY The Gambia 2026), held at the Sir Dawda Jawara Conference Center.
GWAF CEO Abdoulie Jallow and Treasurer Jainaba M Jallow representing the foundation at LCOY 2026.
The gathering brought together passionate youth, children, young entrepreneurs, climate advocates, officials from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, and key stakeholders—all united by a shared vision for a sustainable future in The Gambia and beyond.
Opening ceremony featuring delegates, government officials, and climate stakeholders.
💡 Amplifying Youth Voices
Delegates made bold demands to protect fragile ecosystems and safeguard the future for generations to come. The collective energy demonstrated the central role that young people play in driving national climate action policy.
Young advocates sharing key policy demands and environmental priorities.Delegates uniting for a sustainable future across The Gambia and beyond.
🌱 Direct Environmental Action in Sanyang
On the second day, delegates transitioned from dialogue to direct field action, traveling to the coastal village of Sanyang to plant over 10,000 mangrove trees.
Today, we took a bold stand for our environment. We joined forces with the energetic and dedicated youth of Jeswang for a massive cleaning exercise at the Tanbi Wetlands.
Seeing the community come together this morning to tackle the pollution in our vital mangroves was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve. However, the sheer amount of waste collected today highlights a pressing reality: The Gambia is facing a waste management crisis that requires urgent, nationwide action.
“Our wetlands are not just water and trees; they are the lungs of our coastline and the guardians of our future.”
Why Today Matters: The Need for Better Waste Management
Clean-up exercises like today’s are heroic, but they are a call for a more robust national system. As our cities grow, our waste management infrastructure must evolve to protect our natural wealth.
Ecosystem Protection: The Tanbi Wetlands protect our coastline from erosion and support our vital fisheries.
Public Health: Unmanaged waste clogs drainage systems, leading to stagnant water and disease outbreaks.
Climate Defense: Wetlands act as massive “carbon sinks.” Polluting them destroys our best natural defense against global warming.
The Silent Killers: Plastic and Textiles
During our exercise today, we identified two major culprits causing long-term damage to the Jeswang environment:
1. Plastic Waste: Most of the trash pulled from the mud consisted of single-use plastics. These never truly decompose; instead, they break into microplastics that poison our water and the fish we eat.
2. Textile Waste: Often overlooked, discarded clothing and synthetic fabrics are suffocating the mangrove roots. These textiles leach toxic dyes and chemicals into the delicate soil, killing the biodiversity that keeps our wetlands alive.
When these materials break down under the sun, they release methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2—directly fueling the climate crisis.
A Sustainable Path Forward
Today was a victory for the Jeswang community, but the battle continues. We must move beyond just cleaning up; we must stop waste at its source. By reducing our reliance on plastics and demanding better waste collection services, we can ensure the Tanbi Wetlands remain a thriving green lung for The Gambia.
Thank you to every volunteer who showed up today. You are the change our environment needs!
We are thrilled to share some exciting news! Our vital work is being supported through an incredible partnership with Stichting Kameroen Werkt! and the staff and student board members of the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (Hogeschool Utrecht).
HU Utrecht has selected Stichting Kameroen Werkt! as a beneficiary for their year-end gift initiative!
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What This Means for GWAF
The funds raised through this donation campaign will be directly allocated to the purchase of land for a new tree nursery right here in The Gambia! In collaboration with Stichting Kameroen Werkt! and The Tree Party, this nursery will enable us to:
At a Permaculture Food Forest
Achieve Self-Sufficiency: We will be able to propagate and cultivate fruit trees from seedlings based on permaculture principles (ecological farming).
Boost the Local Economy: The nursery will create a strong economic stimulus, providing much-needed employment opportunities, particularly for women.
Expand Our Educational Reach: It will serve as an educational model, enhancing climate awareness and providing training for people who visit the site.
A Partnership Rooted in Impact
This partnership is a powerful result of the connections forged during the Green Office HU Green Talk: Rooted for Change back in September. Thank you to everyone at HU Utrecht and Stichting Kameroen Werkt! for helping us bring this vision to life!
Celebrate the winter season with The Impact Crew, The Tree Party, & Green World Activists Foundation on 22 December 2025 and help us grow our impact! Enjoy a festive afternoon of gezelligheid (coziness), music, and meaningful discussions. Your presence helps us plant 250 fruit trees in Gambia! * Date: Monday, 22 December 2025 * Time: 14:30 T/M 17:00 (2:30 PM – 5:00 PM) * Location: Restaurant De Rechtbank, Utrecht * Contribution: €15 P.P. (Includes 2 drinks & some tasty snacks!) Doe mee, drink mee, plant mee! (Join in, drink with us, plant with us!) ➡️ Sign up now to reserve your spot and help us make a difference!
