The Gambia
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in the health sector and one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
• 5 years' professional work experience
Additional skills that may make you a more competitive candidate:
• Strong knowledge of a range of community health issues (maternal, child, and neonatal health, malaria, nutrition, non-commutable diseases, and water sanitation and hygiene.
• Experience teaching life skills and behavior change
• Experience working with youth-focused programs.
• Competency in Intercultural Competency Diversity and Inclusion will be an added advantage.
• Community health work experience with an international development organization or U.S. organization
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, Health, or Nursing.
• Master of Public Health degree or Master of Arts/Master of Science degree in Public Health.
• Certified Physician Assistant or Public Health Nurse with expressed interest in public/community health.
All Volunteers live in remote, rural communities, and will need to be flexible in housing expectations. You will live in simple, private quarters on the property of a host family for your entire service. Houses are situated on or near a family compound with other neighboring houses. You will have a private pit latrine and will likely need to fetch water from the village water source, up to 300 yards away.
While your family compound may not have electricity available, Peace Corps The Gambia provides an allowance for Volunteers to purchase a solar system to charge electronics (laptops, phones, tablets, etc.). Usually, this solar electricity can also power a standing fan for much of the day and night. You may need to walk or bike up to 3 miles to access public transportation and up to 6 miles to a larger town for shopping.
Communication between staff and Volunteers, as well as among Volunteers, is mainly by phone and text. You will receive a simple cell phone for local texting and calling on arrival if you do not bring your own. The Gambia is a small country. Contact between staff and Volunteers is high and this is appreciated by the Volunteer community. There are a few internet cafes in some of the larger towns, but access is slow, patchy, and depends on intermittent electricity. There is internet access at the Peace Corps office near the capital, the Peace Corps Training Center in Massembeh, and the PC office in the eastern part of the country.
Many vegetarians have managed to maintain a healthy diet here. However, as the supply and range of vegetables in the country is limited, this can present challenges and requires some flexibility. It is difficult for Volunteers to maintain a vegan diet throughout their service.
Please see The Gambia Living Conditions section of the website for information about:
-Communication
-Housing and site location
-Living Allowance and money management
-Food and diet
-Transportation
-Social activities
-Professionalism, dress, and behavior
Even with newfound democracy that emanated from the 2016 election, The Gambia still has some restrictive laws in law books that target certain sexual acts. Volunteers will need to be mindful of cultural norms and country-specific laws and use their best judgment to determine how to approach topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity in their communities and throughout the country. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will address this topic during Pre-Service Training and identify support mechanisms available for incoming trainees and Volunteers throughout service.
The influence of colonialism and other countries in The Gambia shapes perceptions Gambians may have of outsiders. Americans may be assumed to be wealthy. Black/African Americans may blend in and initially be seen as Gambians; people may assume that they know local languages and culture. Asian Americans may be confused as Chinese citizens working in The Gambia. Peace Corps staff are aware of many of the challenges faced by Volunteers and strive to find meaningful ways to support Volunteers in navigating the complexity of living and working in The Gambia.
None
While the official language of The Gambia is English, Volunteers are expected to learn the predominant local language of the village to which they will be assigned. Instruction in a local language will be provided during Pre-Service Training and additional language support will be available at your work site if needed. Most of the people Volunteers will work with may not speak English, so it is extremely important to understand and be able to communicate in the local language. Languages taught at Pre-Service Training are Pularr, Mandinka, Wollof, Jola, and Serrahulleh.
Health
Yes
The Gambia can accommodate couples within the same or different sectors. Your partner must qualify and apply for one of the following programs:
-The Gambia Community Food Security and Nutrition Facilitator: Pilot
-The Gambia Community Health Facilitator: Pilot
Couples will live and serve together in a common site that might be in either a larger community or in a village where one partner would focus work in a neighboring village.
In the past, this arrangement has worked well especially when the going gets tough. Couples serve in different sectors. They motivate each other and supplement each other’s work in their respective communities and have been model Volunteers.
Peace Corps makes assignment decisions in accordance with host‑country laws and safety considerations. Some countries have laws regulating certain personal conduct between adults. In such locations, the agency cannot place couples whose presence conflicts with local legal requirements or create safety risks.
Peace Corps The Gambia has legal restrictions in place that prevent the agency from placing certain couples in-country. As a result, only couples who meet the legal and safety criteria established by The Gambia may be considered for placement.
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
The Gambia
15
Yes
PCV
No
No
Shorter term service
As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in Education, Health, Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Youth Development. Through their Peace Corps experiences, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.
