WELCOME TO MARAKISSA DIASPORA ASSOCIATION

Marakissa Diaspora Association was formed by Marakissa Natives living outside the Gambia.

Our Aims

Marakissa Diaspora aims to empower the people so that they can attain self-reliance and confidence for long-term sustainable development. It strives to release the people’s boundless potentials for enhancing their productive and organizing abilities for their own development. MDA initiates the activities to empower peoples’ organizations as core activity, which is integrated and community based.

Our Objectives

• Conceptualize, develop, execute and evaluate income generating livelihood programs.
• Promote the indigenous knowledge, skills and resources to strengthen the process of self-development, conservation of natural resources, environment and bio-diversity.
• Advocate lobby and form networks at the local, national and international levels for the great cause of our community.
• Conduct the training, workshops, seminars and develop the human resources.
• Create awareness in the diverse sectors such as education, environment, human rights, self-governance, resource mobilization, micro-finance, gender parity, and health issues.

Our Approach

MDA has adopted the principles of integrated development to maximize the benefits from the complimentary relations and synergy effects. Its development activities synthesize the following major components:

MDA  STRATEGIES

• Mobilizing and organizing communities, promoting self-reliance and self-dependence;
• Encouraging communities to work as partners in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the development process;
• Supporting communities for leadership roles and enhancing their capabilities in this respect;
• Encouraging the government to develop effective collaboration between our community involved in the programme; partnerships with civil society and other stakeholders; and coordination of inter-sectoral actions in support of the communities;
• Mobilizing communities and government resources in a single direction towards integrated Socio-economic development.
• Identification and promotion of appropriate, health friendly technologies for community development and encouragement of healthy lifestyles within the communities;
• Introducing socio-economic interventions and supporting the mobilization of community resources and technical, physical and financial inputs by both government and international agencies;
• Enhancing the educational status, literacy and awareness of the people, making them responsible partners of society;
• Improvement of health indicators through comprehensive health services and improved quality of life as an outcome of socio-economic development.

Our five main strategies are:

• Community organization and active participation: The community will mobilize, organized, trained and empowered to play a proactive role in self development. This empowers people to take charge of their own lives and take action for improving quality of life.

• Coordinated inter-sectoral support: MDA will be involved in local development and mobilize their resources to support the communities.

• Bottom-up planning: MDA will identify and prepare feasible plans in order to address the priority issues.

• Integrated and sustainable development:The community carries out integrated multidisciplinary interventions, based upon local needs and targets outlined in the social contract and in harmony with the village community plans.

• Self-reliance and self-management: The communities self-manage activities by mobilizing and contributing their own resources to ensure programme sustainability.

A community development committee (CDC) is nominated by the people to represent the area and manage the programme. Systematic division of the area provides an opportunity to seek representation from all sectors and parts of the locality as cluster representatives (CRs). Various technical committees and groups such as women and youth assist the CDC in the development process. A team representing various allied sectors operating in the area provides technical and professional support under the leadership of a Chairman/Chairperson.

A national focal person manages the programme at the country level and collaborates with national and international agencies.