About Us
A women-led, feminist organization standing beside women and girls since 2021.
WHO WE ARE
Guardians For Women and Girls (GWG) is a women-led, feminist organization established in 2021 to advance the rights, protection, well-being, and empowerment of women and girls in The Gambia.
We work to create safer, more just, and inclusive communities where women and girls can thrive free from violence and discrimination – not by standing over them, but by standing firmly beside them.
GWG is committed to advancing girls’ rights and bodily autonomy by addressing harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence. We collaborate with survivors, grassroots activists, community leaders, young people, and women’s rights organizations to promote social norm change, strengthen accountability, and advocate for the implementation and protection of laws and policies that safeguard women and girls.
WHAT GUIDES US
Vision, Mission & Values
Our Vision
A Gambia where every woman and girl lives free from violence, fear, and discrimination – safe, empowered, and thriving.
Our Mission
Building communities where young women can embrace their strengths, confront societal challenges, and achieve mental and emotional wellness through a supportive network offering psychosocial support, career development, and comprehensive outreach services.
Our Values
Dignity, survivor-centred care, integrity, community ownership, and courage – in every space we build and every voice we lift.
CORE VALUES
GWG is guided by five core values that shape everything we do:
Protection
Safety as a right, not a privilege
Power
Building agency from within communities
Justice
Holding systems and perpetrators accountable
Solidarity
No woman or girl stands alone
Dignity
Survivor-centred in everything we do
As an organization, GWG is non-partisan, not-for-profit, and committed to accountability, transparency, justice, inclusion, and diversity in all areas of work.
OUR JOURNEY
From 2021 to today
A short history of how GWG began and grew.
- 2021
GWG is foundedFormerly Safe Space 4 Girls, this initiative was founded to respond to the urgent, everyday reality of gender-based violence and mental health care in The Gambia. We commenced with 10 girls welcomed into our space.
- 2022
First safe spaces open- We held our first Women’s Only Retreat, navigating social norms and building sisterhood bonds while opening doors to our mental health support services.
- 2023-2024
Growing Beyond the Urban- Our safe spaces grew as we piloted school-based safe spaces, training young women as peer leaders and extending our support and awareness deeper into their communities and beyond the urban.
- 2025 – Today
Advocacy at national scale- Our voice has reached policy dialogues on GBV, FGM, and girls’ rights. We’ve built partnerships, joined coalitions, and established two solidarity networks.
OUR TEAM
The people behind the work
Sophia Manneh
Ramatoulie Jallow
Mariama Mendy
Governance & transparency
Accountable, non-partisan, not-for-profit
GWG is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, with independently audited accounts. We believe transparency builds the trust that makes our work possible.
Want to work with us?
Whether you’re a donor, partner, or future volunteer, there’s a place for you in this movement.