The Gambia Marathon is commonly known as BAJANA INT. MARATHON. It’s a race that combines charity run and travel to The Gambia. Join the marathon as a professional runner or a tourist looking to run for fun. Runners have the opportunity to not only take part in an amazing run, but to raise funds for a great cause; supporting disadvantage children, building and refurbishing nursery schools in the rural communities.
Explore an incredible community in The Gambia. Visit, connect with, and support grass roots projects lead by local organisation, The Gambia Volunteers Trust and leave a powerful impact on the community. Organise your own local running group to run alongside professional runners in one of the biggest and most exciting international race in West Africa. The Gambian adventure is one you'll never forget. Come and volunteer, meet the community, make life-long friends.
The race route combines the most stunning and beautiful scenery in rural Gambia. It takes place along the TRANS-GAMBIA HIGHWAY; Runners will pass through villages, bushes and sloppy hills. Hundreds of villagers will be cheering along the road. It is the best sightseeing experience for tourist and international runners.
The race categories are 5km, 10km and 42km, those on holidays in The Gambia during the marathon are welcome to join the race. There is something for everyone. Whether it's your first marathon or not, the buzz of the start line won't fail to gear you up for the run ahead and when you cross the finish line and collect your unique medal. There will be series of traditional entertainment, WRESTING, TUG OF WAR and The Famous DONKEY RACE.
The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. It's only six hours direct flight from the United Kingdom. The Gambia is very peaceful and known for her sandy beautiful beaches that attracts thousands of tourist each year. The country is democratic and has a diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. Abundant wildlife in its Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve which has monkeys, leopards, hippos, hyenas and rare birds.
The Race is on --- 20th April 2019; there is something for everyone. Charity, Running, Cultural entertainment and tourism.
Categories: 42km, 10km & 5KM. Register now
The Gambia is welcoming the world on the 20th April 2019
Marathon Photos
Coming soon!
Projects
Marang Beyai Memorial Kindergarten: A Spark of Hope
For the inhabitants of Brikama Gidda, the opening of a school like the Marang Beyai Memorial Kindergarten has ignited a spark of hope for parents who have longed for quality education for their children. The project for the school was first launched on 1st April, 2012 and opened on the 4th of November 2014. It has been in operation for less than two years now and yet during this short period of time, it has strived to provide quality education and a conducive environment for its pupils. Their mission statement- “Education and Care For the young. Providing quality education and a Centre For Excellence.”
The Marang Beyai Memorial Kindergarten was launched by The Gambia Volunteer Trust (GVT) – a registered international development organization, whose mission statement is:
“To serve the causes of peaceful development by enhancing opportunities for participation and promotion of volunteer work: to include and embrace volunteer action in all it diversity. To value free will: commitment, engagement and solidarity which are the foundations of volunteerism”
Roy Sanyang, the founder of the charity, recognised the need for adequate nursery schools, health centres, hospitals, sports and academies and community projects in The Gambia. So in 2009, he came up with the idea of a trust fund wherein youths and tourists coming to The Gambia could be put to use by volunteering in community projects. His aim was not only focused on building nursery schools but also enhancing the productivity and quality of existing nursery schools by providing them with the necessary school utilities and conducive environments for proper education to take place.
For the past seven years in which the Gambia Volunteer trust has been in operation, they have been able to accomplish numerous projects of which The Marang Beyai Memorial Kindergarten is a part of. With the help of compatriot volunteers and volunteers from overseas, they were able to refurbish a nursery school, provide numerous education materials as well as provide skilled volunteers for schools. In addition, they have provided volunteers for hospitals and health centres across the Gambia and put together an annual marathon run in which winners would be sponsored to run in overseas marathons; namely the Sierra Leone Marathon, Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester in the United Kingdom.
Volunteerism is no doubt integral to every society and is an honourable act that requires great sacrifice and commitment. The absence of committed volunteers has been the main hurdle for The Gambia Volunteer Trust. For this Trust fund to operate efficiently, committed volunteers are needed to foot the cost of transportation, feeding and expenses. The Marang Beyai Memorial Nursery School currently has only two classrooms as the third classroom needs sponsors to complete the concrete flooring, painting and decorating. Volunteers are also needed to teach at the school and funds are needed to pay the wages of the local teachers. These children are also in need of learning materials such as writing pads, crayons, pencils and other basic amenities such as a good and convenient source of water and food. Toys and extracurricular activities, an integral part of early childhood education, are also needed at the school.
Any donations made to the Gambia Volunteer Trust as at now, would go towards the Marang Beyai Memorial Kindergarten and the funding of athletes due to travel overseas. The funds would also allow scholarship for children whose parents cannot afford the cost of education. Teachers in schools, colleges and universities can help with fundraising by using the following steps:
⦁ Link your school with theirs and fundraise at your school
⦁ Take a group of student volunteers from your school to visit the nursery and help out
⦁ Set up an online fundraising page to help the nursery project
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating funds to this course can contact the trust by:
Telephone: (Tel: 00220 -9057014)
Email: enquiries@gambiavolunteers.org
Race Partners
Race Results
Bajana Int. Marathon 2018 SPECIAL THANKS: We thank all the runners who made it possible to attend the Bajana Int. Marathon 2018. Special thanks to the institutions who supported us along the way.
The race route combines the most stunning and beautiful scenery along the South Bank; the race starts from SIBANOR ending at BAJANA VILLAGE. The runners coming from all parts of the world passes through rural villages, bushes and hilly slopes.
The race route is along trans-Gambia high way which is the main road from Banjul to koina. Hundreds of villagers will be cheering along the road while running. It is a beautiful and magnificent sight seeing experience for tourist and international runners. It is a race that one will never forget in a lifetime.
Registration
The Great Gambia Run welcomes the world to the 7th annual run on the 20th April 2018. It is a race that combines charity projects and visiting nursery schools sponsored by Gambia Volunteers. Everyone is invited. Join the race, visit tourist attractions and help charitable projects.
Registration is open to all; International runners, tourist, individuals, institutions, running clubs and fun runners. There are 3 running categories.
Charity Run: Help raise fund for a charitable course by registering for Bajana Int. Marathon which is a unique event in that everyone that travels to participate is united in a common fundraising goal: to support the projects of The Gambia Volunteers; building and supporting educational projects.
Sign Upto fundraise for Gambia Volunteers sponsored nursery school.
The Gambia
The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. It's only six hours direct flight from the United Kingdom. The Gambia is very peaceful and known for her sandy beautiful beaches that attracts thousands of tourist each year. The country is democratic and has a diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. Abundant wildlife in its Kiang West National Park and BaoBolong Wetland Reserve which has monkeys, leopards, hippos, hyenas and rare birds.
7 days is the standard length of stay for most runners. We will however help organise transport and accommodation for those who wish to stay for a shorter visit. All of our travel packages include accommodation and all transport in-country including airport transfers to/from Banjul International airport and to project visit sites.
1*: - Bucket showers, electricity at night, no AC, hostel type accommodation - for the true traveller!
2*: - Refreshing bucket showers, electricity, no AC. This option may involve shared accommodation.
3*: - Showers, electricity, guaranteed fan/AC. Our most popular option, stay in a basic Village guest house or hotel with your own private or shared room with toilet and washing facilities.
4*: - Hot showers, electricity, wifi, AC, hotel swimming pool. There are a limited number of premium rooms available. Please contact us for availability.