In partnership with the Mbife Foundation, the Africell Impact Foundation has opened a new community children’s library designed to create inclusive and culturally relevant learning spaces for young people in The Gambia.
The library was officially inaugurated on Thursday17 July at the Africell Shop in Tropic Mall, Banjul. The ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting led by Emily Joof, CEO of the Mbife Foundation, and Hussein Diab Ghanem, CEO of Africell The Gambia.
“By opening up learning spaces in the heart of our community, we’re making education more accessible, more inclusive and more relevant to our children’s lived experiences”, declared Diab Ghanem.
More than a quiet place for reading and study, the library will host regular activities including arts and crafts, literature programs, and storytelling sessions — celebrating The Gambia’s rich tradition of oral storytelling, exemplified by the iconic cultural figure of the ‘Jaliba’, or ‘Griot’.
For Emily Joof, the focus on African-authored stories is what makes this initiative unique. “Many children in the Gambia and across this continent have grown up without seeing themselves in the books they read”, she explained. “It’s not just about literacy, it’s about cultural relevance, belonging and dignity, and when a child sees their language and their food, or their family structure or dreams in a story, it tells them that they matter.”
The Africell Impact Foundation and the Mbife Foundation share a commitment to education as a driver of opportunity and empowerment. Together, they aim to expand access to books and learning opportunities for more children and young people across the country.
The new library is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.