Chris & Sarah wrote on 7th August 2010:

Having done some research ahead of our first trip to Gambia about what we'd like to see and do, my wife and I decided to contact a charity to see how, in our own small way, we could help out and give something back to a country that appeared to be so poor. Following a pretty extensive search, including reading up on various travel sites, we opted for Goal 4 Gambia.

My wife and I found Sandy (who runs the charity) and her team (which includes Lamin, Fansou and Bless) to be genuine, friendly and caring people and the work that they do vital in making a real difference to the lives of children who live in small villages away from the tourist trail.

As others have said, the experience of visiting the different schools is both unforgettable and humbling. Any contribution that you can make is gratefully received (we took a range of books, stationary and sports equipment) but it is worth asking ahead to see if you can bring items that might be in short supply or are difficult to find locally.

Visiting Gambia can be as 'normal' or as diverse as you want it to be. Choose to remain in the hotel or take trips with tour operators and you'll miss out on experiencing small gems like Goal 4 Gambia, whom I can thoroughly recommend to both expose you to the real Gambia and ensure any donations you make go towards making a difference to local children and their communities.

Keep up the excellent work!