Our Partners

The main partners are Gambia Press Union (GPU) and Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC). 

We also work with other media organizations, in The Gambia, Africa, the USA and Europe, on actual projects for media development.

Gambia Press Union (GPU) 

The Gambian journalist association, Gambia Press Union, is dedicated to members’ welfare and safety, to press freedom and media development, and to the democratic development of the country.

Gambia Press Union was founded in 1978 by a group of private journalists and is the only of its kind in the country. GPU is operating from a permanent secretariat and has more than 500 registered members, many of whom are freelance journalists. 

GPU played a key role in The Gambia’s transition in 2016-17, where the former authoritarian rule of president Jammeh was replaced by the democratically elected government of Adama Barrow. Gambia Press Union has managed to put pressure on both the former and the present government to change some of the anti-press legislation. But there is still a long way to go for journalists’ rights, freedom of expression, independence of the media and access to information.

One of GPU’s most important achievements was the establishment of the GPU School of Journalism in 2010, the first formal education of journalists ever in The Gambia – with active support by GAMES. In 2015, the school was renamed Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) and moved to its own premises.

Read more on Gambia Press Union’s website: www.gpu.gm

Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC)

The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) is more than a school. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, MAJaC is an advocate in its own right, using training and educating media and communication professionals as an advanced advocacy for democracy and development.

MAJaC was established in 2010 by the Gambia Press Union (GPU), and is accredited by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority.

MAJaC is still an arm of GPU, although governed by its own independent board with stakeholders from civil society, media, parliament and governmental institutions.

The academy has fourteen full-time and seven part-time staff, who graduate up to 80 advanced diploma students per year. MAJaC offers four levels for the Journalism programme: Foundation, Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma. 

I addition, if offers two other educations in “Film and Photography” and “Communication”, both on Certificate level. MAJaC’s main source of income is tuition fees. 

In addition, MAJaC trains journalists, citizens reporters from community radios, civil society communicators, and others on short-term courses, funded by external donors. A good amount of MAJaC’s annual income comes from projects, fellowship and scholarship grants.

Read more on MAJaC’s website: https://majac.gm/

Other Gambian partners

GAMES also works together with the affiliates of Gambia Press Union such as:

• WOJAG – Women Journalists’ Association of The Gambia
• YJAG – Young Journalists’ Association of The Gambia
• NAC – Network of Agricultural Communicators
• NCR – Network of Community Radios
• SJAG – Sports Journalists’ Association of The Gambia

GAMES has always reached out for cooperation with other possible partners, such as:

• University of the Gambia
• The Ministry of Information
• GRTS (Government controlled Gambia Radio and TV Services)
• The Media Council
• The National Human Rights Commission

GAMES has over the years partnered with many civil society organisations, most of them members of the umbrella organization TANGO (The Association of NGOs).

International partners

Internationally GAMES worked with:

• International Media Support (IMS)
• Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO)
• The Media Foundation of West Africa
• International Center for Journalism (American)
• Free Voice (Dutch media organization)
  

Partners in Denmark

In Denmark, GAMES has been cooperating with:

• CISU (Civil Society in Development) 
• The Danish Union of Journalists
• Danish School of Media and Journalism
• DJ Kommunikation
• The Freelance Group