Sponsor a Child’s Education

Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and build a brighter future. By sponsoring a child through our program, you provide access to quality education, daily meals, healthcare, and the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. With your support, children in The Gambia can attend school, thrive in safe environments, and develop the skills to positively impact their communities.

 

Sponsorship: An Opportunity for a Better Life

If you’ve arrived here, you’re likely considering supporting a child in Africa—specifically, in The Gambia—to access education. You may have questions or concerns. We understand, which is why we prioritize transparency, offering detailed information, photos, videos, and a personal approach. Supporting children through our organization is entirely voluntary and has no time limit.

Through our program, we currently support over 600 children in their education, with godparents from across Europe and beyond—from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Poland, to the United States. These 600 children represent roughly 20 classes of students.

But for us, children are more than numbers. We meet with children and their parents or guardians at least once a month, and some children we see daily. We know their stories, their homes, and their living conditions. Many godparents have even visited The Gambia to meet the children and families in person.

Supporting a child’s education is not just financial. Personal contact, monitoring their progress, and building relationships with families are at the heart of our approach.

Why Support a Child?

Musa Faal, founder of Kids Are The World, The Gambia, experienced the impact of sponsorship firsthand. At age 12, an English couple helped him access an education unavailable in his village. With their support, Musa moved to the city, completed high school, and became independent. Today, he dedicates his life to supporting children in similar situations, recognizing the transformative power of education.

Education shapes a child’s identity and is crucial for the development of communities and the country. It improves quality of life, reduces child mortality, and supports better access to healthcare and nutrition.

In The Gambia, there are no state-run kindergartens. Parents must pay for early education, including uniforms, school supplies, and meals. Without this support, children struggle when entering primary school. Many parents are illiterate and cannot help their children with learning, and most do not speak English, the country’s official language used in schools.

While primary and secondary governmental schools are free, families must cover uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, school supplies, and other school-related costs. Private schools require school fees, which varies depending on the school and location. Classrooms in governmental schools can be overcrowded—sometimes over 100 children with a single teacher—and teachers are often underpaid and underqualified. Many families earn less than €30 per month, making private education unaffordable.

Even a small donation can profoundly impact a Gambian child’s education and future.

Why The Gambia?

Poverty is widespread in The Gambia. Over 60% of the rural population lives in inadequate conditions. Rural areas, home to a third of the country’s poor, are particularly affected.

Each year, families face a “hungry season” lasting 2–4 months during the rainy season (July–September), when household food supplies are scarce. Many parents earn less than €30 per month, and school fees (averaging €60 per year) are difficult to cover without external support. Families struggle with transportation, school meals, supplies, and other costs, which leaves too many children out of school. Illiteracy remains high, particularly among women, and girls are often less likely to attend school than boys.

Sponsorship Details

Monthly Contribution: €20
Annual School Fees: €60

Over the past decade, essential living costs have risen worldwide, including in The Gambia (housing, transport, clothing, food).

All funds from sponsors go directly to children and their families for clothing, education, food, and medical care. Direct assistance via monthly contributions and annual school fees has proven to be the most effective way to improve children’s quality of life.

Your contributions provide children from low-income families with a stable and safe childhood, access to basic healthcare, daily meals, and education, while also supporting local community development.

We encourage sponsors to visit families, see their living conditions, and connect personally. These visits create invaluable bonds and allow sponsors to witness the impact of their support firsthand.

How Much Do Families Receive?

On average, families receive about €1.50 less than the amount you transfer from your European bank account or online payment platform. For example, a €20 donation sent via bank transfer or PayPal typically results in a cash payment of approximately 1,400 Gambian Dalasi (GMD) to the family in The Gambia. Cash is used because most families do not have access to, and do not use, bank accounts.

The exact amount received can vary due to:

  • Bank fees in the sending and receiving countries
  • PayPal or other online payment platform charges
  • Fluctuations in international exchange rates
  • Costs of sending money abroad
  • Administrative work and payments to local coordinators

In practice, this means that a standard €20 monthly donation (some sponsors give more) is reduced by roughly €1.50 to cover the necessary costs of sending funds transparently, whether via bank transfer or PayPal, and ensuring the money reaches families.

Breakdown of costs includes:

  • Bank fees: Banks in Europe charge small fees per transfer. Transfers from countries outside the EU may have higher fees, sometimes up to €10 per transfer.
  • PayPal / online platforms: Processing fees typically range from 2–4% per transaction, depending on your country and currency.
  • Transfer logistics: Funds are sent in EUR from Europe and pass through a correspondent bank in England before reaching the recipient in Gambian Dalasi (GMD). Exchange rate fluctuations affect the final amount received. Since 2012, rates have ranged from 35 GMD/€1 to 80 GMD/€1.
  • Operational costs: Accounting services, annual balance preparation, payments to local coordinators, transportation, phone costs, and other administrative expenses.

Important Notes for Sponsors:

  • Local currency exchange in The Gambia can sometimes yield a higher rate than through bank transfers. Sponsors familiar with local exchange clerks may negotiate better rates. Bank transfers or PayPal transfers cannot be negotiated.
  • Children live across different regions. Families receiving the standard €20 donation are visited at least once a month. If additional funds are sent (for birthdays, holidays, or special support), extra visits are made to document purchases with photos for sponsors. Visits and calls are also required during certificate collection.
  • Additional operational costs of our organization are covered as needed through program fees (e.g., the Travel as a Volunteer program) and donations from partner organizations.

This system ensures transparency, accountability, and that families receive stable support, allowing children to access education, healthcare, and a safer childhood.

How Can You Help?

You can make a real difference in a child’s life in The Gambia by becoming a sponsor. Your support helps children access education, daily meals, healthcare, and a safe environment to grow.

Sponsorship Contributions:

  • Monthly Contribution: €20 per month for daily support (meals, healthcare, transportation, and basic needs).
  • Annual School Fee: €60 per year for school registration, uniforms, materials, and general school expenses.
  • Additional contributions for birthdays, holidays, or special needs are welcome but never required.

See the Children Who Need Your Support
Browse our Facebook album of children awaiting sponsorship to see photos, learn about their stories, and choose a child to sponsor.

How to Get Started:

  1. Choose a child from the album or let us assign one
  2. Fill out our online sponsorship form
  3. Set up your monthly donation and annual school fee contribution
  4. Receive updates and photos showing the impact of your sponsorship

Payment Options:

Account Name: Društvo Za Otroke Sveta
IBAN: SI56 2900 0005 0687 692
SWIFT/BIC: BACXSI22
Bank: UniCredit Bank
Reference: SI99
Payment Purpose: Include the name of your sponsored child (mandatory)
Purpose Code: CHAR

By becoming a sponsor, you give a child in The Gambia a chance to learn, grow, and thrive, while building a personal connection that can be life-changing for both you and the child.

What Will You Receive as a Sponsor?

As a sponsor, you don’t just send support—you become part of a child’s journey. Here’s what you will receive:

  • Child Profile – At the beginning, you’ll receive a personal profile of your sponsored child, along with access to their private cloud folder.
  • Newsletter – Regular updates and stories for all sponsors, keeping you connected with the wider programme.
  • Photos – On request, we provide a new photo of your child via their cloud folder. You will also receive photos of any gifts you send.
  • School Report – At the end of each school year, you’ll receive your child’s school report to see their progress.
  • Direct Connection – You are welcome to exchange letters, drawings, and small gifts with your child to build a real personal bond.
  • Visit Opportunities – We encourage visits and will gladly assist with arrangements if you decide to meet your sponsored child and family in The Gambia.

Your support means more than financial help—it’s an ongoing relationship, with transparency and connection at its heart.

Please Note:

  • Families purchase goods at local markets where receipts are rarely issued due to high illiteracy rates.
  • Donations are used according to the child’s needs, ensuring they attend school and meet basic needs.