Transformational HerMaP Gambia project wraps up with an eye to the future
From Left to Right: The Gambia’s Tourism and Culture Minister, The Honourable Abdoulie Jobe, The Honourable Member of The Gambia’s National Assemnly Omar Jammeh, HERITΛGE Director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis, EU Head of Co-operation in The Gambia, Enrica Pellacani.
HERITΛGE has completed its transformational HerMaP Gambia project to upskill and help grow The Gambia’s cultural, tourism and sports industries with funding from the European Union. To celebrate the project’s achievements, take stock of progress and challenges and map out the next steps, a stakeholder event was held on February 24th in Banjul in the presence of The Honourable Abdoulie Jobe, Minister for Tourism and Culture.
“The future of HerMaP Gambia is for all of you to shape. Government, civil society, and the private sector must work together to safeguard The Gambia’s cultural heritage and transform it into a pillar of national pride and prosperity,” HERITΛGE Director, Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis, told participants including members of parliament, representatives of the country’s National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the Gambia Tourism Board, the Institute for Travel and Tourism of The Gambia, the country’s foremost festivals and a series of cultural heritage projects.
Since its launch in 2020 HerMaP Gambia, that was co-funded by the EU, has: empowered over 250 individuals through capacity-building initiatives in 18 workshops, trained more than 30 trainers and supported 10 key cultural heritage initiatives, including the enhancement of the Fort Bullen Visitor Center, the creation of the Fulani Mud House Museum, and the revitalization of Juffureh Village Museum. An office has been established in Barra North Bank and a Study Tour was organized for the National Assembly’s Committee on Tourism, Culture and Sports in the framework of the program. HerMaP Gambia is also playing a crucial role in documenting and promoting The Gambia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) with HERITΛGE hosting The Gambia’s ICH Register on its website.
As the project concludes, its impact will continue to inspire heritage managers and cultural entrepreneurs, ensuring The Gambia’s rich heritage is preserved and serves as a catalyst for sustainable growth.
As Enrica Pellacani, Head of Co-operation for the Representation of the EU in The Gambia pointed out “By protecting cultural heritage sites and museums, the government will be able to attract more tourists to these sites and this will encourage growth other related areas such as the production of local artisanal souvenirs, the hospitality industry, the tour guide sector, a whole ecosystem that can benefit from culture.”
A few days earlier, HerMaP Gambia had honoured its trainees during a Certificate Award Ceremony. Read more about this event here.
