Seeing Impact First-Hand: A Visit to The Gambia

For many organisations committed to sustainability, social impact is often experienced through reports, metrics and ESG dashboards.

But sometimes, the most powerful understanding comes from standing in the place where that impact is happening.

Recently, a small group of partners travelled with Waste to Wonder Worldwide to Gambia to see the results of circular economy initiatives on the ground. Representatives from CBRE, Lyreco, Food Space, Mitad and Wagstaff Interiors Group joined the visit, witnessing first-hand how surplus office furniture and equipment can be transformed into meaningful community impact.

What they experienced went far beyond carbon savings.

It showed how the circular economy can create opportunity, dignity, and resilience for communities.

A School with 1,745 Students

One of the first visits was to a local school serving 1,745 students. The demand for education is so high that the school operates in two shifts each day, with morning and afternoon sessions just to accommodate every child.

During the visit, the team went to the local market and purchased:

• 1,745 pencils

• 1,745 exercise books

One for every student.

It may seem like a small gesture, but tools like these are essential. Access to basic learning materials allows teachers to teach effectively and students to participate fully in the classroom.

Sometimes, the simplest resources make the biggest difference.

Clean Water for the Community

Another key moment during the visit was the inauguration of a solar-powered borewell installed close to the school.

Access to clean water transforms daily life for communities.

Instead of walking long distances to collect water, families now have a reliable source nearby. For children, this means more time in school. For communities, it opens the door to growing crops locally and producing surplus that can be sold at market.

Each borewell installed serves approximately 2,000 people, creating lasting improvements in health, education, and economic opportunity.

Supporting Healthcare with Digital Records

The team also visited a local maternity health centre, where donated computers are now being used to digitise patient records for the first time.

These computers were generously donated by the TechForAll Foundation, helping the centre move from paper-based record keeping to digital systems.

This shift improves efficiency for healthcare workers and helps ensure that patient information can be tracked more accurately, ultimately supporting better care for mothers and newborns.

Building the Sustainability Cookery School

The visit also provided an opportunity to see the early stages of construction for the Sustainability Cookery School.

What was once shrubland is now the beginning of a training centre designed to equip young people with skills in:

• Sustainable cooking

• Agriculture

• Hospitality and service

The project aims to create a self-sustaining education and training environment, where students gain practical experience while supporting the local community.

Foundations are now in place and the first bricks are being laid.

Watching the project begin to take physical shape was a powerful moment for everyone involved.

The Circular Economy in Action

Circular economy conversations often focus on waste reduction, resource efficiency, and carbon savings.

These outcomes are important. But visits like this reveal something deeper.

When surplus resources are reused with purpose, they create more than environmental benefits.

They create education, clean water, healthcare support, and opportunity.

Every desk reused.
Every computer donated.
Every container shipped.

Each one becomes part of a much larger story.

Looking Ahead

The journey in Gambia is far from over.

From borewells and school resources to the construction of the Sustainability Cookery School, these initiatives continue to grow thanks to the support of forward-thinking organisations committed to sustainable development and social impact.

For the partners who travelled on this visit, seeing these projects in person provided a powerful reminder:

The circular economy is not just about reducing waste.

It’s about creating opportunity where it is needed most.