Since Randy and Beverly Berndt went to The Gambia for Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in 1996, New Hope Academy has supported the ensuing “Gambia Project.” The enthusiasm and "volunteerism" of youth, both Gambians and Americans have been transformative for all participants from both sides of the Atlantic.
Together with Gambian youth groups, 3 initiatives in this amazing country have been developing.
1. A scholarship program that has to date sponsored more than 1000 students since 1998.
2. A Summer of Service Program has brought a total of 73 Americans to work side by side with several hundred Gambian youth, every year since 2007. Together, we do meaningful and interactive service projects, participate in intercultural and inter-religious exchange, and visit and learn about Kuntah Kinteh and the slave trade from Gambia to Baltimore. Past service projects have included clean-up campaigns, character education in schools, educational conferences, helping at a mother-baby health clinic, bringing supplies to and visiting an orphanage, and more, all while incorporating fun and learning into every activity.
3. The Girls' Empowerment and Skills Training Project (GESTP) provides practical tie and dye and batik, entrepreneurial, and character/confidence-building skills. This initiative began as a collaboration between several international NGOs and New Hope Academy.The Girls' Empowerment and Skills Training Project (GESTP) provides practical tie and dye and batik, entrepreneurial, and character/confidence-building skills. This initiative began as a collaboration between several international NGOs and New Hope Academy.
Programs
Although tuition in government primary schools is free, many families need $40 to pay for books, uniforms, test fees, and occasionally shoes. Junior and Senior secondary schools require $75-$100 a year. Merit based scholarships of up to $200 can be applied to private school tuition, also for a year.
Please help sponsor a student. You can make a donation of any amount, or, if you would like to sponsor a student for a year, we will pair you up with a specific student. You will receive their name, contact info, picture, and grades.
943 scholarships since 1998In spite of the efforts of educators and leadership, students need to pass rigorous 5th and 9th grade exams to go on to the next level. Girls are often asked to help at home with younger siblings or help financially support their families and forfeit finishing their education. The G.E.S.T.P aims to give girls practical skills such as tie n dye, sewing, shoemaking and so on, as well as entrepreneurial techniques to run small businesses. This program can reduce the need for early marriage and thwart trafficking
Beverly Berndt started working with student groups in Gambia in 1998, then began bringing groups of American youth to Gambia in 2007 to work side by side Gambian youth to do service projects together for 3 weeks, such as:
Character Education Workshops
Trash Clean-up Campaigns
Evironmental projects like
sheltering endangered Sea Turtles
Tree Planting to counter desertification
Intercultural exchange
Inter-religious forums
Orphanage Visitations
Mother-Baby Wellness Clinic
Multiple options for donating are available. If you would prefer to make a donation by check or by another method, please call the New Hope Academy Office at (301)459-7311 to make arrangement.
Learn more about our Gambia Project (External Website under construction)