Students return from Gambia volunteering project following largest programme to date

A second-year politics and international relations student at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) said a recent trip to the Gambia ‘ignited a passion’ for developing leadership skills in young people, after volunteering in some of Africa’s poorest communities.

Merlahi Jhanda was one of 35 UWE Bristol students to travel to the Gambia to deliver projects on leadership, sustainable fashion, women’s health, mental wellbeing through sport, early childhood play and sustainable architecture.

The trip to the Gambia was made possible through the Daigo Project, a unique partnership between UWE Bristol and the Daughters of Africa Foundation, which provides education, vocational training, digital literacy and leadership development for African communities, while offering meaningful personal and professional development opportunities for UWE Bristol students.

Merlahi led workshops in two schools in Faraba and Abuko on leadership with four other UWE Bristol students, encouraging young people aged nine to 16 to take a more active role in shaping their communities.

He said: “The trip has ignited a passion for young leadership, and I am looking forward to working with more like-minded people in shaping a brighter future. The experience also strengthened my confidence in stepping into unfamiliar spaces and trusting my ability to adapt. Working with different age groups and alongside students from completely different disciplines really pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

UWE Bristol students from across social sciences, education, architecture, nursing and fashion textiles took part in the volunteering programme.

Architecture students led the design and build of a sustainable play area at Abuko National Park, a nature reserve in the town of Abuko. Meanwhile fashion textile students helped young people at the SOS Children's Village in Bakoteh develop design skills to support their employability, delivering workshops on pattern cutting and working with recycled fabrics, culminating in a community fashion show.

Mian Ng, UWE Bristol's strategy and global partnerships lead in social and cultural engagement, said: “This year marked our largest and most diverse cohort. Our volunteering students came Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Europe and the UK, making this a global initiative bringing together young people from different cultural contexts.

“The Daigo Project empowers our students to access unique opportunities beyond their studies to develop as individuals, growing confidence in new settings, enhancing their employability and contributing to another community.”

This was the eleventh group of students who have travelled to the Gambia through the Daigo Project where they, in partnership with local communities, co-create and deliver ethical, meaningful and sustainable projects. Dr Myra Evans, director of partnerships in the School of Social Sciences and Dr Jake Bacon, senior lecturer in early childhood, accompanied and supported students on the trip.