A University of The Gambia Computer Science graduate has launched GamFundMe, a homegrown fundraising website designed to help Gambians raise money for medical bills, education, emergencies, and community projects without platform fees.
Omar A. Bah, a young software developer, said he created the platform after watching how difficult it often is for families to collect support through informal channels. “In The Gambia, when someone needs financial support for something important, fundraising often happens through WhatsApp groups, Facebook posts, family and friends, community networks, or physical collections,” Bah said. Those methods remain vital, he added, but he saw a chance to make the process more organized and easier to share, including with the diaspora.
GamFundMe lets users create a campaign for free, tell their story, set a target, and circulate a link.
Supporters can donate using local mobile money services such as Wave, APS, QMoney and AfriMoney, as well as Visa and Mastercard. Donating is free, and the platform currently charges no fees to organizers or donors.
“I wanted to create a platform where someone could create a fundraising campaign, tell their story, set a fundraising target, and share the campaign with their network, while people who want to help could easily contribute from wherever they are,” Bah said. Once a campaign is live, organizers can send it to relatives, neighbors, social media contacts, and Gambians abroad.
The site, https://gamfundme.com, is aimed specifically at The Gambia. Bah said the goal is not to replace traditional solidarity but to give it a clearer, more accessible home online. He has invited The Alkamba Times and other media to help introduce the platform to a wider audience and offered to provide more details or interviews.
Crowdfunding has become common worldwide, yet many international sites are poorly suited to local payment methods and can impose fees that reduce the amount that reaches those in need. By supporting mobile money already widely used in The Gambia and keeping costs at zero for now, GamFundMe seeks to lower those barriers.
Whether the platform gains traction will depend on trust, ease of use and how quickly word spreads through communities already accustomed to helping one another. For Bah, the project is a practical application of his computer science training to a problem he has seen firsthand: people with urgent needs who struggle to organize support efficiently.
Readers can visit the website to create a campaign or contribute to existing ones. Bah said he remains available to discuss the idea and how it might serve more Gambians.
