Explore the answers to common inquiries about the SaGG Foundation and our steadfast dedication to empowering girls. This all-encompassing FAQs offers valuable information about our purpose, projects, and the transformative influence we have on the lives of Gambian girls. Discover how you can make a difference, actively participate, and unite with us to foster a more promising tomorrow for girls in The Gambia.
1) Does the charity support university-level education?
Our charity is dedicated to supporting education from nursery to university level. We rely on charitable donations and encourage individuals to engage in charitable giving to help us in our mission. When you donate money to our charity, you are contributing to the cause of providing comprehensive educational support, starting from nursery and extending all the way to university-level education. We offer sponsorship programmes for girls, ensuring that they receive the necessary financial assistance to pursue their education from the early years until university.
2) I don't live in the UK or The Gambia; can I still sponsor a child?
Yes, anyone can become a sponsor and make donations to support girl child education. We appreciate anyone who wants to empower girls to study and provide them with a better future.
3) Why is the charity only directed to the girl child?
This initiative specifically focuses on empowering girls through education. Due to limited financial support, many families in The Gambia face the difficult decision of choosing which child to send to school, often favouring boys. Cultural and religious beliefs often dictate that girls should be prepared for early marriage instead of pursuing education. In response, this initiative strives to advocate for girls' right to education by providing financial support through charitable donations. These contributions aim to shape their futures, foster independence, and nurture their leadership potential.
4) How long will the sponsorship last?
Studies have indicated that initiating child sponsorship at a young age increases the likelihood of consistent support throughout the child's educational journey. At SaGG, we anticipate fostering a strong relationship between sponsors and recipients, with the expectation that the sponsorship will extend beyond high school and potentially into the future. We understand the importance of sustained charitable donations and aim to create an environment where sponsors are motivated to engage in long-term charitable giving, benefiting the recipient's education and overall well-being.
5) How do you ensure that 100% of the sponsorship goes to the girl’s education?
We have 7 members on the Board of Trustees for the Foundation, and we have one administrator in The Gambia responsible for paying the fees directly to the schools and supplying all receipts. The administrator in The Gambia also purchases all educational materials and delivers them to the girl’s address. No sponsorship is ever given to the parents and the fact that most of the sponsors opt to receive updates directly from the families, considerably reduces administrative work. As a foundation, our only aim is to pair up girls with sponsors to help them shape their future through education.
6) Is there an age limit for the sponsored girl?
We aim to get girls into school as early as possible; however, we do recognise that the need for financial support might arise at any point in a girl’s life. Hence, once a girl requires financial help to access nursery, primary, junior, or secondary school we will endeavour to facilitate the support by pairing them with a sponsor.
7) What are the long-term visions for sponsor a Gambian girl?
SAGG is a foundation that has only been running since November 2018 and so far, we have managed to successfully pair 200+ girls with sponsors, which is a huge achievement. At the same time, we are cognisant of the fact that the growth and development of girls should not be limited to the classroom. To complement academic growth, we aim for girls to develop holistically as well. In the longer term, the plan is to run summer confidence and career-building programmes, mentorship, and coaching schemes along with leadership and business ideation camps. These long-term initiatives will be financed from fundraising activities and not sponsorships.
Donation FAQs
Explore different methods to make charitable donations, gain insights into our transparent donation process, and delve into the impact of your generosity in shaping a brighter future for girls in The Gambia. Help us in our noble cause to support Girls' Empowerment through charity.
1) Can toys or clothes be donated?
We would be grateful for your contributions but monetary donations would suffice the educational needs of our girls. Hence by donating as little as £2 to £10 pounds every month, you could secure a girl’s future!
2) How does a one-time donation suffice a year’s fee for the girl child?
When you make a one-time donation, we take the distribution into our hands and plan it out accordingly. A yearly fee mounts to £ 150 to £ 200 approximately and we make efforts to ensure that the one-time donations are segregated accordingly. We make sure that 100% of that donation fulfills its purpose and we help a girl receive that donation for her education.
3) What are the donation options?
The sponsors can donate through PAYPAL or monthly direct debit donations. You can avail more options here.
Child Sponsorship FAQs
Empower girls by building personal connectionsand learn how your sponsorship can create a positive ripple effect in their lives, families, and community. Together, let's embark on a journey of empowerment and create a brighter future for girls' in need.
1) Can sponsors write to their sponsored girls?
Yes, sponsors can write to their sponsored girls to support them mentally and emotionally, therefore girls would feel more empowered.
2) What is the criteria for sponsorship?
We target:
Girls who are orphans.
Girls from communities that do not encourage girls’ education.
Families with no girls in school
Girls that are brilliant/talented in school but lack financial support.
In most cases, girls in these circumstances end up dropping out of school and being married off at an early age. Due to a lack of financial support from absent fathers and other family members, girls from single-parent families are also vulnerable as there are insufficient funds to send them to school.
3) What happens when someone stops sponsoring a girl?
Even though we envisage the sponsorship relationship to last throughout the girl’s education journey, we recognize that the situation for the sponsor may change at any time. In that case, we will work with the sponsor to understand if it is a temporary or permanent decision. We can then develop a plan that would support the child for the long or short term.
4) How are the funds utilized by The Gambian Girls?
At SaGG, we ensure that 100% of the funds go directly towards girls' education, including schooling amenities like uniforms, stationary, study books, and other educational resources.
5) How often would sponsors receive updates?
Most families have access to community phones where they can send weekly or monthly updates about their daughter’s school performance and activities through WhatsApp to the sponsor. However, we do recognize that not all sponsors opt for direct communication with the families, in which case we will send updates twice a year.
STANDING BY BRAVE GAMBIAN GIRLS​
Do you want to make a meaningful impact? You can now help brave Gambian girls by demonstrating your commitment to our charitable cause. You can make a donation as little as £2 to £10 and help secure the lives of Gambian girls. Your financial help is what will keep these girls in school and uplift their lives for a brighter future.
