Who We Are
United Community Development Association (UCDA) is a non profit organization, NGO registered and based in the Gambia. The association seek to support Gambian communities through students leadership and involvement in development sector interventions, discuss challenges and opportunities in the education and agriculture sector, additionally, teach them to apply lessons and knowledge acquired develop their projects and assist their villages to initiate priority projects and link them to development partners and NGOs working in the Gambia.
OUR TEAM
1.Mrs Micheline Verhoeven founder, development sector worker with 20 years of experience in development sector projects including agriculture, education, access to water.
2.Dr Olawale F. OLANIYAN PhD in Animal Breeding/Technology Ege University, Turkey, more than 18-year postgraduate experience concerning sustainable agriculture, practices, climate action, and food systems. University lecturer research methods and agriculture
3.Mrs Lisong Bah, Mary’s little lamb school founder, Early Childhood Education (ECD) specialist
4.Mrs Aji Ramou Cessay, agribusiness entrepreneur poultry farming nema farms
- Mr Fernando Gomez – Climate-Smart Agronomist & Agribusiness Support Officer
- Mrs Jariatou Sisawo – Agronomist
- Mr Saiku Njie – Agronomist
- Mr Alhagie Dibba – Farmer Trainer, Farmer fields school
Our Objectives
—Enhance Access to Quality Education
Establish and support inclusive learning environments, particularly in
underserved rural communities Through school rehabilitation projects, libraries
development, ICT Tools and equipment, Homework clubs, School gardening
projects, School canteen projects
—Promote Youth Empowerment and Skills Development
Facilitate mentorship, internships, and leadership development opportunities
for young students, awareness on development initiatives, relevant training related to development sector initiatives.
Establish a peer learning system for students involved in development projects
— Advance Gender Equity in Education and Agriculture
Implement initiatives that support girls' education and reduce barriers to
female participation in farming and agribusiness, Support to women’s groups
— Strengthen Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture
1. Support to farmer field schools and farmers organizations to implement
environmentally friendly, climate resilient farming techniques projects.
2. Support access to improved seeds, tools, and technologies that enhance food
security and productivity.
3. Promote fruit tree planting, soil conservation, and water management projects.
— Support to livestock projects
Initiate an implement small scale poultry and ruminant projects.
— Support to Agribusiness MSMEs
Business mentoring and capacity building, connection of SMEs to incubators
programmes and access to finance through credit unions and microfinance
institutions.
— Support to eco-tourism and solidarity tourism
Support to villages visits and support to the communities’ schools and farms,
conservation projects initiatives.
Internships for students in development studies, tropical agronomy, NGO
management, and visit the Gambia
— Advance Gender Equity in Education and Agriculture
Build the capacity of local Civil Society Organization, leaders, schools, and
farmer groups to take ownership of development initiatives.
Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing between students and
CSOs
Our Projects
Eco Tourism Project in Jaffureh and Albreda village
Eco Tourism Project in Jaffureh and Albreda village in partnership withthe Juffureh Albreda Youth Society The Juffureh Albreda youth society
PROJECT TRAINING ON SMALL SCALE EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK PROJECTS
Community Development association with the support of Olawale F. OLANIYAN, senior lecturer at the University of the Gambia will develop
PROJECT MARYS LITTLE LAMB SCHOOL SUPPORT
Expand and upgrade Mary’s Little Lambs Daycare, Nursery and Preparatory School. The project is to help fund the creation of