Pageant's motto is "Education is the future". We could also say that the environment is the future. Children in The Gambia are passionately concerned about their environment and wildlife. The Gunjur Environmental Protection and Development Group (GEPADG) is based in Gunjur, on the Atlantic coast south of Banjul. It was founded by Mr Badara Njie Bajo, and is staffed entirely by Gambians, motivated by their desire to protect and enhance their natural environment. They work to achieve long-term, sustainable solutions to poverty in The Gambia through reversing the current destruction of forests, mangroves and coastal ecosystems. GEPADG is accredited by both GEF and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (under the UN).  GEPADG's voice in the UK is Keith Lawrence, a frequent visitor to The Gambia.

GEPADG logo

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Adama, Keith and Badara	Members of the Gunjur Community
GEPADG activities include: employing The Gambia's first turtle warden community based forest management annual tree planting exercises improving community health and sanitation campaigning for more sustainable patterns of development an annual village cleaning day.
	GEPADG volunteers check a beach for turtle eggs

GEPADG is currently restoring an important coastal lagoon in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The lagoon has abundant birdlife, with over 75 species recorded, including sightings of White crowned Robin-Chat, Yellow-Crowned Gonolet and Northern Shoveler.

GEPADG is always looking volunteers to help in their work in this beautiful coastal area. See the GEPADG website for further details.

Ethical Gifts

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Pageant operates an Ethical Gifts Scheme, with a number of gifts provided in partnership with GEPADG. These gifts are indicated in the list of gifts by the tree logo shown on the right.

	crocodile in the mangrove roots << One of the reserves looked after by GEPADG

GEPADG works to stamp out illegal activities such as turtle and dolphin hunting, bush fires and tree felling in the forests, mangroves and coastal areas. GEPADG has had great success in regenerating areas of mangrove forest that had been lost due to drought. Mangroves are a refuge for many species of birds and animals and are also a vital resource for the people of Gunjur. They protect the coastline from storms, act as a nursery for young fish and provide products such as charcoal, timber & honey. GEPADG's forest wardens and field workers need robust boots for this work, and you can help them by buying a pair of boots as an ethical gift.

GEPADG volunteers carry out tasks such as maintenance and tree planting in the Gunjur mangrove reclamation area, as well as monthly beach sweeping and village cleaning days. Litter is a major problem in Gambian villages and fish landing sites, causing pollution and spreading disease. The volunteers need tools such as cutlasses, rakes and saws, together with wheelbarrows for moving rubbish and materials. The numerous community forests around Gunjur spread over a large area, so GEPADG's wardens use bicycles to respond quickly and effectively to incidents and illegal activities.

Your friend or relative gets a beautiful illustrated Gift Token, showing the Ethical Gift you have bought on their behalf, and describes how it will be used to help GEPADG. See a specimen voucher. Where possible, all gifts will be purchased in The Gambia, thus avoiding transportation costs, helping the local economy, and providing very good value for money.