Edinburgh, Scotland · Est. 2018
About Friends of Gambia
A Scottish charity founded in Edinburgh, built on the belief that small communities can change lives on the other side of the world.
Our story
How we started
Friends of Gambia was founded in Edinburgh by a small group of individuals who had witnessed first-hand the poverty and lack of basic infrastructure facing communities in The Gambia. What began as a single borehole project in 2024 has grown into a registered Scottish charity with dozens of completed missions across West Africa.
We trade as Hands of Friendship — a name that reflects our core belief: that lasting change comes not from top-down aid, but from genuine partnership with the communities we serve. Every project we undertake is identified in collaboration with local leaders, and every outcome is reported back to our donors with photographic evidence.
We are registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) under charity number SCO55444. Our accounts are filed annually and are publicly available. We take our accountability to donors, beneficiaries, and the regulator seriously.
What guides us
Our values
Transparency
Every penny is tracked. We publish annual accounts with OSCR and provide photographic evidence from every project we complete.
Partnership
We work alongside local community leaders, not above them. Projects are identified by communities, not imposed on them.
Accountability
100% of donations reach the field. We take no admin fees from donations. Our trustees are unpaid volunteers.
Sustainability
We build infrastructure that lasts — solar-powered boreholes, solid school buildings, restored Masjids — not temporary fixes.
The people behind the work
Our team
All trustees and directors serve as unpaid volunteers. Every penny donated goes to the field.
Ibrahim MacKenzie Brown
Founder & Chair
Ibrahim founded Friends of Gambia after witnessing first-hand the lack of clean water and basic infrastructure facing communities in The Gambia. He has led every major mission since the charity's inception.
Murtiza Nabi
Trustee & Secretary
Murtiza oversees project planning, donor communications, and on-the-ground coordination with our partners in The Gambia.
Asif Kirmani
Trustee & Treasurer
Asif manages the charity's finances and ensures full compliance with OSCR reporting requirements, bringing valuable accountancy experience to the board.
Legal & registration
Registered & regulated
Charity name
Hands of Friendship
Trading name
Friends of Gambia
Charity number
SCO55444
Regulator
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
Registered address
Edinburgh, Scotland
Our annual accounts and trustees' reports are filed with OSCR and are publicly available. We are committed to full financial transparency.
Ready to support our work?
Every donation is used directly in the field. Get in touch if you have questions about how we operate.