Gambia Scout Project Wins Pan African Award for Entrepreneurs

The Gambia Scout Project, based in The Gambia, has received a prestigious award for its Entrepreneurial education programmes in Africa. The projects are run by a UK based education charity called Teach a man To Fish.

The Education Africa pan-African Award for Entrepreneurship in Education 2008 aimed to identify the best organisation rising to the challenges of supporting Education across Africa, highlight their ways of working and reward their achievements.

In giving out the award, Nikkafka, managing director Teach A man To Fish, said "we were amazed by the standard of entrants from across Africa."

"This competition, Director Nik said, set out to prove that the Entrepreneurial sprit is thriving in all types of education project across the continent and we were proved right." Mr Nik however noted that the award has drawn international attention to the achievement of some of Africa's great education entrepreneurs, adding that this will encouraged others to follow their example.

In receiving the award on behalf of The Gambia Scout Project, Andy Geddes, UK project leader, said they are happy to have won such an important award, noting that it is fantastic that their work is appreciated by their peers across the globe. Mr Andy asserted that the prize will help them to continue their good work and make real differences to the lives of young people in The Gambia. He said receiving this prize will be a boost to all those who work tirelessly in the project. According to him, The Gambia Scout Project was set up in 1987 as a skills training centre near Banjul were young people could attained classes in over 20 subjects. The centre has grown over the past 21 years and now attracts 120 students each year learning skills which improve their chances of employment. This in turn benefits their whole family. He said the project has become one of the few centres of excellence in The Gambia and is the only one that is self-financing.