The Full Story
About Our Training
"There are plans... and then there are people, who breath love and life into plans...
In The Gambia, under ITC's EU funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP),
Potjana Saurnsi and I had to develop a plan to help local Gambian youth
to become Community Based Tourism trainers,
and develop two new, upriver CBT destinations........
For over a year, the Master Trainers and Active Youth
have brought heads, hands and hearts to their work.
It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege working with these amazing, beautiful people... trying something new."
​
Peter Richards January 2019
So How Did it All Begin?
Invitation to Train Nov '17
Tour guide training was the first step towards a long term aim to develop Janjanbureh as a second destination for tourists. Visitors already come to Janjanbureh either through organised tours or as individuals. The immediate presence of more trained local guides could only enhance their experience.
Initial Training Soon Began
High level training for Tour Guides started in Janjanbureh under the auspices of YEP, involving ITTOG, NCAC, GTB, concentrating on the Janjanbureh's history and culture.
Trained Guides
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Marong Camara
Jalamanag Danso * Muhammed Fatty
Isatou Foon *
Omar Jammeh *
Modou Jange
Muhammed L Saidykhan
Muhammed Jawneh *
Kaddy Sanneh
Mustapha Sanneh
Pampalo Sanneh
KebbaSarjo
Taka Titi​
* These five were subsequently selected to become Trainers of Trainers (Tots )*
Further Training was Planned
The World Travel Market, London in
November 2017 was an opportunity
for International Consultants,
Peter Richards and Potjana Suansri
to identify market needs for responsible tourism product development in The Gambia.
There they met with Adama Bah,
a long time supporter of JUST ACT
and Lucy McCombes,
a Responsible Tourism Consultant
Trainer of Trainers begins
Tabanani
"It revealed great potential for communities to offer and enable guests to interact through cultural exchange and preserve their norms and values without distorting or commercialising their beautiful culture…"
A plan was devised to train both the youth group of ToT's alongside Master Trainers from Gambian Tourism professionals, GTB, ITTOG,GTHI and NCAC, thus overcoming the difficulty of Peter and Potjana based in Thailand , always providing face to face training.
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Beginning in December 2017, through immersive and hands-on learning, they met these "Active Youths' who honed their skills,
ultimately inspiring two rural villages off the island to open their hearts and homes to visitors.
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These communities now proudly share their way of life, traditional skills, and cultural treasures, offering travellers an authentic and unforgettable experience demonstrating the benefits of Community Based Tourism
Preparation for Next Stage
Prior to the return of Peter and Potjana in preparation for the next stage of intensive training the 'Active Youths' were tasked with developing possible CBT with the nearby village of Jamali under instructions to​:-
1) Prepare yourself and your team
2) Invest time/effort building trust
3) Invite men, women, elders, youths to attend the meeting and raise awareness
4) Listen from difference opinion by dividing into small group discussion
5) Some pictures might help the participants to think and share the idea
6) During brainstorm, write the key word on board
​
Fresh from the Field
March 2018 saw a new model of intensive training based on the handbook
'Fresh from the Field'
produced by Potjana and Peter.
Eight days were spent covering classroom work, then into a village to practice the new tools and techniques using the
3S system of Safety, Story, Service.
Classroom Emphasis
Taking in to the Field
After the classroom training, the trainees went to Ndemban village for practice.
15 community members were interested in being guides attended with energy and support by their Alkalo and Village Development committee.
Finally Presenting to Key Persons in Tourism
leading to.....
"Productive day with master trainers, active youth trainees, ground handlers and stakeholders on ITC market research presentation by Peter Richards and overview of potential CBT experiences in Janjanbureh.
Active youth did a great job to present their work in front of the key persons in tourism in Gambia.
17 participants from the hotel associations, ministry of tourism office, tour operators, ground handlers, GTB, NCAC, ITTOG, GTHI have a chance to listen a voice from young people and have a chance to tell their need and offer to support tourism upriver." (Potjana Suansri)
Graduation!
and celebrating!
Development of Training in Jamali March 2019
Easily accessible by ferry to Lamin Koto, followed by a donkey cart ride, the groundwork for possible activities with the village had already been laid during the previous classroom lessons.
Now, it was time to further develop the Fula village of Jamali
Jamali
Jamali
"Local guide training, which builds local community members’ skills and confidence to tell their own stories, in their own voices. This training is less about content and more about process; how to deliver these stories well."
Be welcomed by the unique sounds of the riti before exploring every aspect of village life. Meet the village chief, try your hand at a local craft, visit the community women's garden, and join in preparing and enjoying a traditional meal. Experience Jamali like never before!
Tabanani Explored and Developed
In contrast, visiting the Mandinka village of Tabanani near the Senegalese border offered another rich cultural experience—meeting the Kanyeling women, encountering the Ifangbondi or Farraa Kankurang, tasting traditional cuisine for which the residents soon received food hygiene training, crafting bamboo fans, and enjoying their unique dance style.
Tabanani
Other Regions Developing From Our Experiences
JUST ACT Tour Guides invited to train JAYS in Albreda/ Juffereh
in August 2018
JAYS (Juffureh/Albreda Youths Society) a registered NGO formed in the mid 90s by the youths of the sister villages of Juffureh and Albreda hosted a Tourism Mingle in July 2018 bringing tourism stakeholders to the Roots destination to discuss the impacting and the issues affecting tourism in the area and ways to devise and promote responsible Community Based Tourism community
courtesy of ASSERT Gambia and JUST ACT Gambia guides.
Bringing Training to a New West African Country
Guinea Bissau
Two groups of our Trainers of Trainers embarked on a long journey to Bubaque Island from October 13 to November 13, 2023, working in three remote rural villages—Bijante, Etimbatu, and Bruce—each with strong potential for tourism development.
Each group consisted of 15 participants, primarily young people, along with a few experienced service providers. Every village had its own unique character, cultural distinctions, and geographical features.
The training sessions were conducted informally, following Community-Based Tourism (CBT) principles. They covered a wide range of topics, including cultural tourism, product development, marketing, food hygiene, handicrafts, and waste management.
Trainees' Evaluation
"were appreciative of trainer’s level of knowledge, style and presentation, preparation and research about the topics and the efficient use of training material. Moreover participants also admired that trainers engaged participants in discussions and encouraged them to raise questions and not only this, his/her overall behaviour towards participants was also good which made it easy for them to learn and understand"
We Are Proud to Offer the Results of Our Intensive Training
and to Share with Further Area as
Community Based Tourism Training in The Gambia to empower youth and rural communities
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Apr 18, 2018
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by Mayara Louzada