🇬🇲 Russian Language in The Gambia

On August 17, the Volga Summer Russian Language Course launched in The Gambia — a two-week intensive Russian language program taught by an instructor from Russia. The program is designed for beginners and combines language training with an introduction to Russian culture and history, as well as opportunities to pursue higher education in Russia.

🌏 A year ago, Gibril Faal, Director of the WYF National Preparatory Committee for The Gambia, with whom we continue to cooperate today, approached us with an initiative to create more accessible opportunities for learning Russian in the country, primarily for young people planning to continue their education at Russian universities. At the same time, the initiative goes beyond a single language course: it is laying the groundwork for the further development of Russian language teaching in The Gambia and, in the longer term, may contribute to the introduction of relevant programs into the country’s education system.

🇷🇺 We were glad to assist Gibril and his team by providing informational and technical support in preparing, completing, and submitting a grant application to the Russkiy Mir Foundation. The application was successful, and the initiative is now being implemented.

The language course brings together 30 participants, while its cultural and educational program is designed to reach up to 100 people. The program includes a total of 30 academic hours of Russian language classes and 16 hours dedicated to Russian culture and history.

The first results became visible within just a few days: participants have learned the Cyrillic alphabet, can write their names in Russian, and are already beginning to read simple phrases.

🤝 The next step is to continue this work and develop dialogue with the relevant Gambian authorities on expanding opportunities to study Russian in the country. For us, it is especially important to see an idea brought to us a year ago become a real educational initiative today — one that contributes to strengthening humanitarian and educational ties between Russia and The Gambia.