The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency has launched a new environmental initiative in The Gambia, introducing its “Zero Waste Workshop in Gambian Schools Project” at Gunjur Senior Secondary School in the coastal town of Gunjur.
The project is designed to promote environmental awareness, encourage recycling, and instill sustainable living habits among students.
The launch ceremony drew high-level participation, including First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Banjul Türker Oba, TİKA Gambia Coordinator Ali Kerim, school officials, and local representatives.
The event began with the planting of apple saplings within the school grounds, symbolising a commitment to environmental sustainability and long-term food security while creating a lasting green space for students.
Calls for behavioural change
During the ceremony, a video message from Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan, released for International Zero Waste Day 2026, was shared.
Emine Erdoğan highlighted food waste as this year’s theme, stressing that while millions face hunger globally, significant quantities of food are lost each year. She emphasised that meaningful environmental progress begins with individual behavioural change.
In her remarks, Bah-Barrow pointed to the global scale of the challenge, noting that nearly one billion tonnes of food are wasted annually. She called on individuals and institutions to adopt sustainable practices, including reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting waste.
Kerim said the Zero Waste Project, first launched in 2017 under Emine Erdoğan’s leadership, has grown into an internationally recognised environmental movement. He also noted that the United Nations designated March 30 as International Zero Waste Day, with the initiative receiving recognition from the United Nations Development Programme.
Practical training sessions
As part of the programme, students at Gunjur Senior Secondary School and Maarif Schools in the capital will undergo three days of practical training on waste separation, recycling processes, environmental clean-up, sustainable consumption, and upcycling.
The project represents the first phase of TİKA’s environmental efforts in The Gambia. Future plans include establishing zero waste stations at the University of The Gambia’s Faraba Campus and introducing conservation-focused systems at Bijilo Nature Park, as part of broader efforts to support sustainable development and environmental education in the country.
