Representing HERITΛGE, Denise Navarro Becerra, Program Manager for M Gambia, presented the paper:“Strengthening Local Capacities for Cultural Tourism Development: The HerMaP Gambia Initiative (2020–2025)”.

The presentation highlighted how the EU-funded initiative supported peer-led capacity building, institutional partnerships, and community-based tourism development in The Gambia demonstrating HERITΛGE’s methodology for building locally rooted, sustainable heritage systems.

The CST 2025 program addressed some of the most pressing challenges in heritage and tourism today. Sessions were organized under themes such as:

• Bridging Past and Present: Valuation and Interpretation of Tangible and Intangible Heritage
• Community, Culture, and Local Engagement in Tourism
• From Stones to Stories: Negotiating Tangible and Intangible Heritage Across Continents
• Cultural Heritage, Identity & Interpretation

Presenters included researchers and practitioners from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Taiwan, the Philippines, Mexico, Georgia, and beyond, reflecting the global scope of the dialogue and the relevance of cultural tourism across diverse contexts.

While in Egypt, the HERITΛGE team also had the pleasure of reconnecting with Dr. Hassan Refaat, HERITΛGE fellow and grant awardee, whose ongoing work continues to contribute meaningfully to sustainable heritage development in the region.

HERITΛGE received strong interest from institutions and professionals seeking future collaboration, particularly on integrating heritage training, community engagement, and tourism development. The conference provided a valuable opportunity to share lessons from the HerMaP Gambia initiative and reaffirm HERITΛGE’s commitment to co-creating sustainable, community-led heritage programs in Africa and globally.

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On Friday, July 18, The Heritage Management Organization (HERITΛGE) took another step forward in supporting The Gambia’s vibrant arts community by formalizing a partnership with the Visual Artist Association of The Gambia (VAAG) at the NCAC Pipeline Offices in Banjul.

Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis, Director of HERITΛGE, led a master class called “Telling Heritage Stories Through Art” for VAAG members. The session explored how visual art can become a bridge between past and present, helping communities preserve their stories while making them relevant for new generations.

From VAAG exhibition during the HERITΛGE HerMaP Gambia Certificate Ceremony in February 2025

The gathering drew important voices from The Gambia’s cultural landscape, including Mr. Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), who emphasized the value of bringing together local institutions with international partners to strengthen heritage education.

By the end of the day, Mr. Modou Lamin Jatta, Chairman of VAAG, and Dr. Kyriakidis had signed a Memorandum of Understanding that opens doors for ongoing collaboration. The partnership promises more training opportunities, exhibition development, and chances for Gambian artists to share their heritage-inspired work with international audiences.

From VAAG exhibition during the HERITΛGE HerMaP Gambia Certificate Ceremony in February 2025

The collaboration is already showing results. This past February, VAAG organized a visual art exhibition during the HerMaP Gambia Certificate Award Ceremony, which marked The Gambia’s 60th Independence Anniversary. The exhibition showcased how contemporary artists are interpreting their nation’s story and contributing to conversations about identity and cultural memory.

HERITΛGE looks forward to continuing this work with VAAG and other local partners, creating spaces where heritage and creativity intersect. Together, they’re building platforms for artists to explore their history, connect with their communities, and imagine new possibilities for the future.

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The Heritage Management Organization (HERITΛGE) and the School of the Future International Academy (SoFIA) are joining forces to support education and heritage management professionals in The Gambia. With their expertise in adult training and competence development, the two organizations will organize a series of activities to enhance the skills of professionals in the fields of education and culture.

The first goal of this partnership is to provide tailor-made mentoring programs for school leaders to develop the essential skills they need to succeed in managing their educational institutions. Through the initiative, school leaders will also become familiar with the importance of promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of their local communities and the country as a whole. They will be encouraged to collaborate with cultural institutions and groups in their area to promote the significance of understanding and promoting culture.

The collaboration will also include heritage management professionals working with local education institutions to create an open, inter-generational dialogue between people who are interested in promoting the value of cultural heritage in their communities. Participants will receive support on how to effectively interpret and teach local History and Culture in the curricula of their schools and in cultural spaces in their area.

“Our network in The Gambia is very extensive, and it is important that it becomes useful for the benefit of the country. It is for this reason that we have partnered with SoFIA to ensure that the country’s secondary education sector benefits from their services, as that sector is crucial for the improvement of heritage management in the country. We are very proud to launch our collaboration with SoFIA with Latrikunda Upper Basic School (LKUBS), The Gambia,” said HERITΛGE Director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis.

Generally speaking, this collaboration is an effort to map the landscape for culture and education professionals in The Gambia trying to provide them with training and support aiming to improve the way their institutions operate. It is worth mentioning that The Gambia is just the first stop of this collaboration and that both organizations aspire to reach as many professionals as possible in more countries in Africa.

HERITAGE’s partnership with SoFIA elevates the visibility of the HerMaP Gambia intervention efforts, co-funded by the European Union.

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