Projects
'Guaranteed Gambian' crafts project
In January 2011, a group of European volunteer designers began working with local craftspeople in southern Gambia to help them develop products to sell to tourists. The team developed a showcase of the products at Sandele Eco Resort to enable the producers to market their new product range.
Following this, with support from the Travel Foundation and Thomas Cook, the project was developed to include producers from the Banjul area.
The project aims to help local craftspeople build a sustainable business, and earn an income from tourism by selling high quality authentic Gambian crafts, made using sustainable materials.
50 new products were created, and a new brand emerged - Guaranteed Gambian.
Below are some downloads with further information:
Read more about the launch of the Guaranteed Gambia brand
Find out more about the products and where you can find them
Guaranteed Gambian products
Many Guaranteed Gambian products make use of traditional West African Symbols so as well as a beautiful hand made product many products come with a hidden meaning derived from the myths and legends of African culture.
Musa Jaiteh, one of Gambia’s leading dye workers, creates all of the dyed fabrics. Musa has created stunning fabrics in both traditional tie-dye and block batik patterns using only natural cola-nut, cashew nut and indigo dyes.
Each product comes with a label that provides background to the product and tells the story of its design and manufacture.
Many of the designs incorporate traditional West African symbols. The meaning of the symbol is explained on the product label.
All Guaranteed Gambian products are made by skilled Gambian craftspeople. The designs are based on African culture, and are also developed to appeal to contemporary western tastes.