Dawda Manneh is a dynamic youth leader, climate change activist, student, social entrepreneur, and advocate from The Gambia. He is the founder and president of two impactful organizations: the Nyancho Orphan Foundation Gambia and Young African Climate Activists. In 2019, Dawda established the Nyancho Orphan Foundation Gambia, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting orphans and vulnerable children by providing them with access to education, entrepreneurial skills, leadership development, and capacity building for a better future. In 2021, he purchased land to build an orphanage, which, once completed, will host over 50 orphans and include a playground and classrooms equipped for technical studies. In 2024, Dawda founded the Young African Climate Activists, an organization focused on combating climate change. He has also demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by establishing an electronics retail store after completing an intensive three-month entrepreneurship training in 2020. His leadership skills were further recognized in 2022 when he was selected to participate in the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Center in Accra. As a young leader, Dawda is committed to leading by example, embodying values of resilience, empathy, and innovation. He aims to inspire others to embrace these qualities in their leadership journeys and to leave a lasting legacy of empowerment, equity, and resilience.
The Nyancho Orphan Foundation Gambia is a politically and denominationally neutral organization, officially registered in The Gambia. Its mission is to provide shelter, proper nutrition, clothing, healthcare, and educational support for orphaned children in the community. The foundation’s work is focused on five key areas:
Basic Needs: Providing food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare for orphaned children. The foundation is building a new shelter in Batokunku Village to accommodate these children.
Education: Supporting orphaned children’s education by providing access to schooling, supplies, and tuition assistance.
Emotional Support: Offering emotional support and counseling to help children cope with the trauma of losing their parents or being separated from their families.
Skills Development: Providing vocational training and other practical skills to help children establish themselves in the future.
Community Integration: Helping orphaned children integrate into their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
The foundation’s mission is to get orphans off the streets and ensure that every orphan has equal access to education and daily life opportunities, just like any other child.