About Us

Our Vision

The Gambia is the size of the state of Delaware in the United States, comprised of five divisions. Each division is home to impoverished children that do not have adequate educational support to improve their current conditions. The Rural Enrichment Project envisions students in rural areas having access to fully-supplied libraries and technology with Internet access. We believe this will transform the educational outcome for children of The Gambia, and these children can not wait any longer for these changes. Now is the time to support their educational endeavors!

Objective

It is the sole intent of Yallalba Non-Profit Organization to build school library systems that are effective, efficient and provide a safe place of additional learning amongst peers and educators in all five division of The Gambia.

Goals

Our goal is to make books, resource materials and even laptop computers available for checkout to all children grades 1 through 12, including course materials they may need for grades 9 through 12. By making books more accessible, the drop-out rate for students eligible for high school may decrease.

The library will have common and quiet areas for students to study in groups or individually. This alone could help further a child's education by allowing them the freedom to ask questions amongst their peers or seek assistance from adults that have an education.

Faq's

WHO ARE WE ?
We are a 501(c)3, non-profit organization dedicated to preparing children of The Gambia, West Africa for life by providing school libraries and bringing Internet access to the schools and rural villages where these children learn and live.

WHY CHOOSE US FOR YOUR DONATION ?
The Rural Enrichment Project is the only non-profit organization currently working with children and families in The Gambia by focusing on improving the rural schools by providing modern libraries and Internet access. The children in many of the rural villages live in poverty and their parents are unable to afford the financial burden of high school. They feel, at an early age, there is no future for them. Consequently, many drop out of school, marry young, and perpetuate the same sense of hopelessness from generation to generation. This cycle must, and can, be broken through enhanced educational opportunities. In the final analysis, your gift is the gift of hope.

WHAT SERVICES DO WE PROVIDE ?
We provide modern school libraries equipped with books, school-related materials, and technology, including Internet access, to rural villages in The Gambia.

HOW DO WE PROVIDE THIS SERVICE ?

WHEN WERE WE ESTABLISHED ?
The organization was founded in 2009 by a Gambian educated in the United States who, after 20 years in the United States, was compelled to make a difference in the lives of the children who live in the rural areas of his native land.

WHERE DO WE FOCUS ?
The Gambia is broken up into five divisions, which are comparable to counties within the United States. Our long-term vision is to provide school libraries, including books and materials, along with technology and Internet access to the schools in all of these divisions. In the short-term, the first two library projects will be in the North Bank Division in the village of Yallalba and the town of Farafenni.

The Founder

Yallalba Non-Profit Organization grew out of the vision of Ousman Bah who, like many of his counterparts from Gambia, came to America to seek opportunities and to pursue the American dream. Even at the young age of eleven, Ousman knew what he wanted to accomplish and identified that America was the place where he could fulfill his dreams. When he was 18, he left Gambia and arrived in New York City .

Having had jobs as a taxi driver, dishwasher, security guard, hotel housekeeper, nurse's aide, banker, flight attendant, debt collector, loan specialist, sales associate, and customer service representative, Ousman learned that hard work and perseverance certainly pay off. He also believes that a good education is the ticket to succeed in life. He studied for eight long years to achieve his B.S., M.S. and MBA degrees at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Today, he holds a management position in a major telecommunications company. While Ousman is proud of his accomplishments, he is grateful for the support and encouragement that his fellow Americans and others gave him along his journey. He is a living proof that diligence and a desire to succeed can make anything possible.

After his last visit to Gambia in 2008, Ousman was compelled by the talent and potential of the children there but was also disappointed by the lack of resources in education and training to develop their talent. Knowing that these children are the leaders of the future, he was convinced that he could not stand by and do nothing.

Ousman wants to partner with you to make it possible for the deserving children in Gambia to realize their dreams of attaining a higher education to help them succeed in life.

Board & Staff