In a strong show of support for the preservation of The Gambia’s cultural heritage, His Excellency President Adama Barrow visited the Jufureh Heritage Village Museum in the North Bank Region. The visit marks a proud moment for HERITΛGE, as the new museum has been made possible with funding from our Small Grants for African Heritage funded by the Mellon Foundation—and our HerMaP Gambia initiative, funded by the European Union.

The Jufureh Heritage Village Museum, developed by the Alamanding Foundation, is a community-driven initiative dedicated to safeguarding traditional knowledge, skills, and stories for future generations. More than a space for preserving artefacts, it serves as a living museum—a place where culture thrives through civic education, environmental awareness, artisan workshops, and storytelling gatherings at Banta Baa, a communal hub for cultural exchange.

At the heart of the project is the construction of a traditional Mandinka homestead, built using local materials and techniques that reflect the authenticity of rural Gambian life. The homestead complements an already completed Fulani compound, together forming a vibrant cultural complex that celebrates the shared heritage of the Mandinka and Fula communities of the Niumi District.

The initiative also supports sustainability and community empowerment. A solar-powered borehole has been installed to provide clean water and electricity to the site, ensuring that the museum operates in an environmentally responsible way. Meanwhile, 12 local stakeholders—including tour guides, museum staff, and tourism officials—have been trained by HERITΛGE in oral history collection, heritage interpretation, and cultural tourism marketing.

These activities are already generating impact. The museum has become a focal point for visitors seeking deeper engagement with Gambian heritage and for locals who see their traditions valued and sustained.

HERITΛGE is proud to have contributed to a project that not only preserves heritage but also creates opportunities, strengthens local identity, and demonstrates the power of community-led action. President Barrow’s visit is a testament to the national importance of such efforts and to the shared vision of building a more inclusive and sustainable future for heritage in The Gambia.

You can now visit the museum and find out more about Jufureh’s heritage. Find out more here.

*HERITΛGE’s Small Grants for Africa Initiative is supported by the Mellon Foundation’s Humanities in Place program. This project has also received funding from EU-funded HerMaP Gambia.

Training

HERITΛGE celebrated a record-breaking milestone in 2024, training over 1,000 heritage caretakers in a single year. Participants engaged in a wide range of programs, including three-day workshops conducted online and in person, two annual summer schools focusing on digital tools and community engagement, and specialized training tailored to specific regions, topics and organizations. These included programs on Street Art in The Gambia (which also produced a new mural for the country’s National Centre for the Arts and Culture), Heritage interpretation in Rwanda, Project Management for US Heritage Managers, and an introduction to Fundraising and Project Management in Iraq.

Heritage Threatened by Conflict, Natural Disasters, and Climate Change

HERITΛGE continued its mission to protect heritage at risk worldwide, strengthening existing partnerships and forging new ones. In Ukraine, the Digital Museum project that was funded by the Creative Europe’s Culture Helps initiative, trained museum professionals to use digital tools, ensuring operational continuity and community access during wartime. Simultaneously, the two-year Architecture in Times of War: The Ukrainian Model  initiative – delivered in cooperation with the Kharkiv School of Architecture and Skeiron and the support of the US Embassy in Kyiv –  is equipping students and educators with digital skills to document, preserve, and restore architectural heritage.

In Türkiye, HERITΛGE published comprehensive reports documenting historic sites affected by the February 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. These reports include protection recommendations and advocate for enhanced cultural heritage recovery in affected provinces. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, a new project launched to safeguard the early Buddhist heritage of the Swat Valley, an area under threat from conflict, climate change, and rapid development. In Yemen, efforts continued to preserve the unique earthen architecture of Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site struggling under the weight of a decade-long civil war.

HERITΛGE in Africa

The HerMaP Africa initiative, generously supported by the Mellon Foundation, has delivered significant impact. Over 75 small heritage projects received funding, alongside the awarding of several fellowships and the training of more than 370 heritage managers in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda. New partnerships were also established to further these efforts. In The Gambia, HERITΛGE’s ongoing HerMaP Gambia initiative, co-funded by the European Union, provided training to enhance the country’s culture and tourism sectors. The program also facilitated a parliamentary delegation study tour in Greece and partnered with the NCAC to launch the country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Register, a project supported by UNESCO.

Giving Heritage Managers New Tools

HERITΛGE made strides in empowering heritage managers with innovative tools and practices. The EU-funded SHIFT project advanced its work to make heritage more accessible and inclusive, with a consortium meeting and project presentation held in Athens. The AHEAD initiative, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe program, introduced seminars (now available online) and launched a community-based artistic project in Crete, with similar activities planned for Italy and Spain. HERITΛGE also announced the launch of EMPATHS, a project designed to promote participatory heritage interpretation through new tools and training resources.

Creating Networks, Connecting Professionals

Collaboration and community-building remained central to HERITΛGE’s mission in 2024. The organization continued developing Greece’s Living Heritage Network, supported by the Ministry of Culture, with HERITΛGE actively contributing to its digital and physical infrastructure, member recruitment, and communications. Additionally, the newly established AHEAD Network brings together heritage managers and community members who share a vision of audience engagement and participation.

Knowledge Sharing

HERITΛGE emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing through active participation in global events and publications. Director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis delivered a keynote at the Choc Des Legendes Conference in Ghana, held under the auspices of the country’s First Lady. The organization also sponsored PastForward 2024, the annual conference of the US National Trust for Historic Preservation. Other highlights included workshops and presentations at the 30th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists and the ReImagining Public Collections conference in Hungary.

HERITΛGE contributed to a Horizon Europe-funded policy brief on digital cultural heritage and shared expertise through webinars, seminars, and public lectures. Notable online resources include audience development webinars from the AHEAD initiative and webinars on architectural preservation in Ukraine.

1st Global Staff Summit

Reflecting the growth in HERITΛGE’s activities and team, the organization hosted its inaugural Global Staff Summit in September. This online event brought together staff working in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas , marking the beginning of an annual tradition to foster collaboration and alignment across our expanding network.