Our Story & The Vision Behind The Box

About us – The GreenBox Gambia is the realisation of a shared life, a partnership of 16 years, and a deep, lifelong devotion to The Gambia.

The initial spark for the charity was inspired by Linda I. Veråsdal. As the founder and CEO of the international tour operator Ethical Travel Portal, Linda has been designing and operating responsible tourism journeys to The Gambia since 2008.

That spark found its perfect counterpart in her partner, David C. White, the owner and director of Gunjur’s award-winning Footsteps Eco-Lodge, which has pioneered off-grid environmental sustainability since 2001.

Together—alongside a dedicated network of colleagues, friends, guests, and conscious travellers—David and Linda spent years carrying out local charity work on an ad hoc basis. Their combined expertise in eco-hospitality and ethical travel formed the bedrock of what was to come.

Today, that collective lifetime of passion has been formalised into an official charity. We are The GreenBox—a dedicated platform filled to the brim with opportunities to drive positive, lasting development across the communities we call home.

Our primary aim is simple yet profound: To create a better place for local people to live in, and a better place for travellers to visit. We firmly believe in using responsible tourism as a powerful, transformative tool to uplift local communities and protect the environment.

What We Fight For

• Empowering Women & Girls: We provide direct support and resources to women and young girls, helping them gain independence and achieve sustainable self-help in their everyday lives.
• Protecting Children: We actively fight against the sexual abuse and exploitation of minors. We fiercely advocate for zero tolerance of child abuse both within the tourism industry and across local communities.
• Animal Welfare: We take an active, hands-on role in protecting, treating, and caring for animals throughout The Gambia.
• Environmental Conservation: We step up to protect our native ecosystems, conserve the Gambia’s natural assets, and preserve biodiversity.
• Sustainable Waste Management: We contribute to a cleaner future by educating the younger generation on sustainable waste management, recycling, and environmental stewardship.
• Educational Scholarships: We provide life-changing academic scholarships to highly ambitious young Gambians, equipping them with the higher education and practical skills needed to build a brighter future for their country.

Real change cannot be achieved alone. We raise funds and gather contributions to directly finance these grassroots activities. Crucially, we work hand-in-hand with verified organisations both inside The Gambia and internationally to maximise our impact. By connecting conscious travellers with local community needs, we turn our shared inspiration into a living, breathing catalyst for a better Gambia.