Work in specialized Learning Labs and facilitate our innovative learning methods for Gambian children. Help us to test and improve these techniques ready for global use.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Help To Educate The Children In Gambia
Working with the youth of Gambia is so rewarding. Watching their development is just amazing. You will have the opportunity to work in our specialised learning labs, you will get to work with them in the garden, you will get to help develop new content Leap Learning’s app universe…and you will get to know each and every one of the children at the farm…we’re one big family.
What Is A Learning Lab
Imagine entering a space that awakens your sense, appeals to your curiosity and makes you want to explore and experiment. You are met by all the colours of the rainbow, inspiring banners, exciting tasks, fun games, and challenging puzzles. You learn how to use tablets and can explore a whole universe of apps giving you infinite challenges. By trying and failing, and trying again - your accomplishments are rewarded. You learn because you want to, and as you master new skills, you want to learn even more. You are in a Learning Lab... and it’s full of educational wonders!
Leap Learning, our educational partner has developed a new educational method using technology to enable children to learn to learn, wherever and whoever they are in the world. We are combining technology and hands-on games into a flipped classroom (Learning Labs) with stations, to ensure that all children can learn at their own level and pace.
Help inspire the children of Gambia to learn in our Learning Labs. The MyFarm Learning Labs are even more special, its where we test everything before it is used across the world!
Learning Labs are now used all over the world and we test every single new concept at MyFarm...so what happens in this tiny country in West Africa, has truly global significance.
Wake Up Its A Beautiful Morning
You will wake up in the tranquility of our gardens in the canopy of mango trees to the sound of birds chirping.
Take a stroll around the beautiful farm, if you choose to you can help feed the many animals we have on-site or help out in the gardens.
Children Are Excited To Learn At MyFarm
At 9am excited children will start arriving at the farm, and you will see on their faces they are excited to learn in our amazing Learning Labs. Spend the morning with them facilitating hundreds of educational games and apps that help them learn!
On their breaks, you will walk them around the farm or continue the learning and take part in garden activities with our permaculture garden team. It is a constant learning experience at MyFarm.
Every day delicious traditional Gambian lunches are served and we all sit and eat as a family. You'll try everything when you at MyFarm...Domoda, benechin, palm oil, and the popular polassis.
After lunch you will either head back in the Learning Labs, or help to develop vital content for the apps with our expert educational team.
The great thing about MyFarm is that we have so much going on. You can either stick to a schedule, or you can get involved in a bit of everything :)
Typical Day Program
- 7.30-8am - Wake up
- 9am - Learning Labs open and education begins
- 11.30am - Break time and farm activities
- 12pm - Back in the Labs
- 2pm - Lunch
- 3pm - Back in the Labs
- 4pm - Education in the garden
- 5pm - Work ends
- 5-late - Free time
We are very flexible at MyFarm, usually volunteers work Monday-Friday, but this is not fixed. Sometimes you may work during the week and sometimes the weekend, it just depends on whats happening at the time.
Experience The Real Africa
Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, that doesn't mean that there is not much going on. Gambia has so much to offer.
Spend time upcountry (rural Gambia) for a true African experience. Upcountry is beautiful and our team know all the tips to make you have the most wonderful time. Highlights include Wassu stone circles, take a boat ride with Gambia's wild hippos or visit the incredible chimpanzee rehabilitation project. Upcountry you will find all sorts of amazing wildlife, including crocodiles, baboons, hippos, red colubus monkeys, hundreds of bird species and much more.
Bird Watching
Gambia is famous for its birds, in face there are over 700 resident species in the country...amazing for such a small place. The thick mangroves forests hugging the coastal and river regions is just the perfect sanctuary, you will get to experience all of this during your stay
Spend Your Weekends In Gambia's Many Eco Lodges
Gambia has so many amazing eco lodges. Most of them are set in thick jungle, use composting toilet and all have their own vegetable gardens. These eco lodges are beautiful places to be and we have great contacts with all of them, many will even offer discounts to Myfarm volunteers so you will get the best deals too. Footsteps eco lodge and Nemasu are particular highlights in the coastal region. At Bintang Bolong lodge you may even be lucky enough to see dolphins more than 60 miles in land.
Other Highlights
- Kayaking through the mangroves at Tanji
- Crocodile pool in Bakau
- Beautiful beaches
- quad biking through the jungle
- Bird watching in Gunjur
- Boat trip to Senegal
- Coastal festivals in March
- Many restaurants with cusiene from around the world
Gambia really does have so much to offer for such a small country so you will not be disappointed :)