The Mbife Foundation is a community-driven non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing a vibrant culture of reading, storytelling, and early childhood education across The Gambia.
Founded by author and educator Emily Joof, the foundation establishes accessible community children's libraries in everyday social spaces, schools, and partner venues.
By putting books directly into children's hands, Mbife bridges literacy gaps through creative, engaging, and inclusive programming. At the heart of this work is a curated selection of "stories that feel like home" - positive-impact books by authors for The Gambian community, the broader continent, and the diaspora.
By ensuring children see their own faces, cultures, and daily rhythms reflected on the page, Mbife transforms reading from a routine task into a source of pride, belonging, and joy.
Mbife Community Libraries & Locations:
Inside The Fajara Garden Restaurant Library
Overview: Home to Mbife’s very first community children's library.
Inside Africell Outlet - Tropic Mall
Overview: A central, convenient library space located right inside Senegambia’s mall.
Inside Africell Impact Foundation (AIF)
Overview: Multidiscipline Learning Hub in Fajara
Mbife hostsFree Community Activities:
Read-Aloud & Storytelling Sessions: Interactive storytimes led by authors and educators to promote reading engagement among young children.
Art & Story Hour: Creative weekly workshops combining book reading with themed arts and crafts projects.
Word Play Club: Fun, interactive sessions centered around Scrabble and board games to boost literacy, word-building, and vocabulary skills.
Fun with Phonics: Guided learning sessions focused on letter sounds, decoding words, and building early reading confidence for young children aged 5 to 7.
Typically replies within 30 minutes
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