Facts and Figures
- DDF Project Title
- Danso Children’s Academy
- DDF Fellow Reference Number
- DDF 13
- Partner in The Gambia
- AMA Trading
- Geographical Coverage
- Urban-Rural
- Period
- 2022 – 2023
- DDF Grant
- D300,000
- Cash Contribution
- D848,000
- In-kind Contribution
- D159,000
Challenges and Opportunities
Upon completion of the new expansions, DCA will be a pre-primary and primary STEM school rooted in the idea of bridging the education equality gap. The three-storey building, private school will have seventeen classrooms, a modern library, computer and science labs, and a 500-person capacity auditorium with indoor sporting facilities. The academy aspires to be an inclusive school and a community centre that promotes the culture of learning, and community participation in education. DCA is a response to poor education outcomes in low-income communities, due to; rural-urban educational barriers, limited school options and a lack of qualified teachers among many others.
DCA’s auditorium will double up as a community Center in Yundum, which lacks one, for adult literacy programmes and social functions including banquets and meetings, among others.
Ibrahim Danso (USA)
DDF 14
Ibrahim Danso’s past experiences as teacher and social worker in The Gambia and United States of America respectively, motivated him to establish the Danso Children’s Academy (DCA) in his home country in 2019. DCA is a nursery school in the low-income community of Old Yundum, in the West Coast Region of the country. At the time of writing this piece, DCA is undergoing a major expansion programme involving the construction of a lower basic school.
‘’The DDF funding is earmarked for hiring a School Principal, extra teachers and support staff including nutritionists.’’
~ Ibrahim Danso, Project Lead.
About The Project
DCA plans to make the school facilities available for communal use and, adult learning for the locals including students’ parents. Also, the school will be hosting volunteers of different backgrounds from America to enrich the students’ experiences.
DDF Results and Impact
- Building Construction:
- 2 of the 3-storey building have been erected; 10 classrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 offices.
- The school yard has been fitted with concrete tiles.
- The school garden is fenced and covered with topsoil, and the hanging poultry is ready.
- New Hires and Students:
- At least 100 new urban and rural students have been admitted into the nursery school.
- At least 21 new jobs created.
