The location: The Gambia, officially The Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa (Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS). Geographically, The Gambia is a small and narrow country, surrounded by Senegal on all sides except for its western border, the Atlantic Ocean. On mappemondes, therefore, Senegambia is literally the closest point to The Americas on the Motherland. The Gambia River (“Kambi Bolongo”) flows through the middle of the country and empties into the Atlantic. The national namesake river demarcates the elongated shape of the country, which has a population of about 2.5 million. The capital city is Banjul, formerly Bathurst under British colonialism. After centuries of Portuguese, English and French influence, trade, and a dramatic political history, in 1965, the country achieved its “independence” (“in-dependence”?) from the United Kingdom. The Gambia is a founding member of ECOWAS, and her economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and tourism.

Course Work and Highlights: During this course, students will focus on the work of the nongovernmental organization GAMCOTRAP, Gambian Committee for Traditional Practices Affecting Women’s Health and the February 2024 conservative religious, social, and political movement to overturn a ban on the practice of Female Genital Mutilations (FGMs). Students will assist with and participate in GAMCOTRAP information sessions, contribute to projects maintaining its headquarters, conduct research at the National Archives, partake in cultural visits around Banjul, and take Wolof lessons with local instructors.

Housing: Students will stay in double rooms at the heavenly Tamala Beach Resort.

Prerequisite course: HIS205_001 Africa Past and Present (offered fall 2024), or documented permission of the instructor.

Eligibility:
Chatham undergraduate students must have good academic standing and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of application and at the commencement of spring 2025 term. Students must have completed at least 30 undergraduate credits at the time of travel, including at least 15 credits
completed at Chatham at the time of travel.
Students must have good judicial standing (to be verified by Office of Student Affairs) and good financial standing at Chatham (to be verified by Student Accounts).

Students must be current Chatham students at the time of the field experience to participate.

The minimum enrollment for this course is 8 students. Each field experience is self-supporting and must meet its minimum enrollment number or it will be cancelled.