AFRIKAYA is a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organization registered under charity number 1132367, dedicated to advancing the education of children in West Africa, particularly in The Gambia. Founded in 2007, the charity's primary mission is to improve access to early childhood education by directly providing, or assisting in the provision of, appropriate schooling for children who face barriers to education in their local communities[1][2].

History and Mission

AFRIKAYA was established with the goal of constructing a nursery school to serve children in the village of New Yundum, The Gambia, who otherwise struggled to receive formal education. The organization believes that education is the key to helping this community gain control over their lives and break the cycle of poverty. The nursery school was successfully built on a plot of land acquired by the charity and opened around 2011. Since then, AFRIKAYA has expanded its scope from provision of nursery education to include job creation and community training initiatives in the area[1][5].

Operations and Governance

The charity is based in Pewsey, Wiltshire, UK, and operates with full charitable status recognized by the UK Charity Commission. It is managed and governed by a team of four trustees—Geoff Miles, Di Miles MBE, Sanjeen Payne-Kumar, and Helen Payne-Kumar—who volunteer their diverse skills in management, finance, marketing, child protection, youth work, counselling, and fundraising. Di Miles was awarded an MBE in 2024 for her services to education in The Gambia, reflecting the impact of the charity's work[1][3].

In The Gambia, AFRIKAYA is represented and managed locally by Alimamo Ceesay, the Head of School, who oversees the development and daily management of the nursery. Alongside the Head of Teaching, Baboucarr Mboob, the local team is responsible for administration, financial management, and educational delivery at the nursery[3].

Programs and Impact

AFRIKAYA focuses on providing early years education for children aged between 3 and 7 years. The nursery school also supports local employment, currently providing jobs for 14 people and offering training to community members. The charity assists in funding teachers' salaries through child sponsorship programs and collaborates with the local village community to develop further educational facilities based on identified needs[1][5].

In addition to educational provision, AFRIKAYA fosters cultural and educational links between schools in the UK and communities in The Gambia, including promoting community, musical, and cultural exchanges[5].

Fundraising and Support

The charity sustains its operations primarily through sponsorships, fundraising events mainly held in the UK, and support from individuals organizing their own events in aid of AFRIKAYA. These efforts help maintain the nursery school infrastructure and fund educational activities and staff salaries[1][4].

AFRIKAYA exemplifies a small but impactful charitable organization leveraging local and international partnerships to improve educational outcomes and community development in underprivileged areas of West Africa.

[1] https://afrikaya.co.uk [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5002483 [3] https://afrikaya.co.uk/about-us/ [4] https://www.justgiving.com/afrikayacharity [5] https://www.accessgambia.com/biz1/afrikaya.html