Africa-Press – Gambia. Germany-based Gambian athlete and philanthropist John Gomez has launched a series of community support initiatives aimed at improving education, child welfare, and youth development in The Gambia, starting with his home community of London Corner in Serrekunda.
Gomez, also known internationally as “Gambia’s Strongest Man” and the “African Rhino,” said the project’s target vulnerable children and disadvantaged families. Key interventions include the completion of Hope Academy in Mariama Kunda, funded through donations from friends and partners in Germany. The school will provide access to education for children from underprivileged households.
In addition, Gomez has sponsored school fees for dozens of children from single-parent families and distributed over 300 school bags across different communities. His humanitarian work extends to Qur’anic schools and orphanages, where he provides regular food assistance, including rice and cooking oil, particularly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
At an orphanage, Gomez recently oversaw improvements in living conditions for more than 70 children, including the provision of beds, mattresses, food supplies, sanitation upgrades, clean water access, and plans for fumigation and healthcare support.
Looking ahead, Gomez plans to establish a performance and rehabilitation centre in London Corner to promote sports development, youth counselling, and social rehabilitation. The centre will offer activities such as kickboxing and football, alongside psychosocial support services aimed at steering young people away from drugs, violence, and social exclusion. Volunteers, including trained sociologists from Europe, are expected to support the initiative once a site is secured.
Gomez also announced intentions to support skills training and small business development for young women, particularly in hairdressing, and to collaborate with organizations addressing critical social issues. He has committed 10 percent of profits from his business ventures in Germany—including fitness products and a skincare line for melanated skin—to fund these projects.
Calling for collective responsibility, Gomez urged Gambians at home and abroad to contribute to national development. “This is about giving back and building a legacy,” he said. “If we all contribute in our own small ways, we can change lives and build a better future for our communities and for The Gambia.”
This marks Gomez’s first formal engagement with national media and aims to inspire other Gambians in the diaspora to invest in social development initiatives across the country.
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