We Support:
Health
Education
The Environment
Agriculture
Animal Welfare
Entrepreneurship
Humanitarian
In Loving Memory
Dr. Karamo NM Sonko
Founder & Former Chairman of Heeno International · 1961 - 2026
With profound sadness, Heeno International mourns the passing of our beloved founder and Chairman, Dr. Karamo NM Sonko. Born in Sintet, The Gambia, he was a distinguished economist and social scientist, educated at the University of Cambridge and the University of Denver, whose work spanned four continents, including service with the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. He was Chairman of TAF Africa Global, founder and CEO of Jula Consultancy, a strategic adviser to Perseus Mining, and a leading voice for ethical, sustainable development across the continent.
In 2011 he founded Heeno International, The Gambia’s first pan-African humanitarian foundation, and personally led and funded its work until 2026. Guided by faith and compassion, he devoted his life and means to lifting up the poor and the needy: clean water, education, health, agriculture, and care for the most vulnerable across Africa and beyond.
He will be remembered for his brilliance, his generosity, and above all his humanity. Though he is no longer with us, his kindness and the countless lives he touched will remain with us always. May he rest in eternal peace.
Heeno International
HI is a privately funded Gambian Non-Governmental and Non-Profit Foundation registered in January 2011, which provides small grants that can make big differences in people's lives. HI does not solicit funds, but would welcome voluntary contributions from persons or organizations who share its vision and objectives. So far HI's financial resources and its grants program have come from the consulting services and investments of its Chairman. The grants are channeled directly to the beneficiaries or the institutions catering for them.
Watering Life
Examples of
our work
Contact Us
PO Box 3260, Kairaba AvenueKanifing Municipality, The Gambia
Telephone: 00220 4461556
Fax: 00220 4395716
Email: info@julaconsultancy.com
You can support our work
Although HI does not solicit funds, it is interested in hearing from those with good advice or ideas about:
- HI's work;
- global peace and understanding;
- environmental conservation and agriculture; and
- how to help the poor/needy through their services, for periods ranging from one week to a year.
In particular, we are interested in medical professionals (doctors and nurses), engineers, and technicians who would like to spend some time in West African villages and towns, providing medical attention, training in technical areas (eg. Solar power, basic skills for the unemployed youth), marketing (especially for women's vegetable cooperatives), agriculture and micro finance management. Although no remuneration is provided for these services, HI can provide free modest accommodation and host families for the volunteers. Interested persons should write to our contact address on this website.
Gambia Disability Impact Trust Fund
On Wednesday, July 4, 2018, the Gambia Disability Impact Trust Fund was launched at Madiba Mall, Brufut, The Gambia, organized by Alhaji Mustapha N'jie, Chairman of the Taf Foundation (who also chaired the occasion) and Dr Karamo NM Sonko, Chairman of Heeno International, the principal initiator and sponsor of the historic impact investment fund.