Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC)

As a not-for-profit social enterprise, MAJAC is an advocate in its own right. It is guided by its vision to strengthen participatory democracy, social cohesion, and sustainable development in The Gambia by nurturing critical and creative minds for the rapidly evolving world of media, civil society, and the creative industry. Its mission is to educate and capacity-build youth and working journalists, civil society communicators, and cultural producers while driving systemic change through evidence-based advocacy and coalition building. MAJaC strives to empower CSOs, media, and citizens to take proactive roles in building democratic institutions and development by organizing agenda-setting events, trainings, workshops, in-house capacity development, research projects, and professional courses on a vocational level. MAJaC runs a curriculum accredited by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA). However, the academy receives no public funding or subsidies. MAJaC’s learning philosophy is very different from the dominant top-down education and training. MAJaC nurtures experiential learning, involvement, participation, and real-life practical application. The academy was established in 2010 by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and registered as a charitable organization with limited liability under the Companies Act. Though owned by GPU, the academy is governed by an independent board with members from civil society organisations, the business community, academia, and women's groups. As a charitable social enterprise, the academy runs courses at a cheaper rate compared to other training providers in The Gambia. MAJaC generates income through course fees, fundraising, and donor-funded projects for its expenses and development, but not for profit. There are no shareholders to be given dividends. MAJaC’s earnings are to sustain its further consolidation and development, and any future surplus is, by default, channeled back into media development.