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Janky
United Kingdom
92 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 10:00:27
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Hi Guys,
I had a really weird dream last night about Gambia. I was trying to help a school in Talingding, Serrekunda. I went there and sorted out everything and made sure that they were given books, pencils etc.
I do sponsor children in Gambia but would like to do more.
Can anyone advise me on how I can get some books etc from companys and the costs involved to ship them over to Gambia?
I have a weird feeling that this is something that I need to do
Can someone please tell me how to get rid of the icons that allow my posting to be deleted/edited etc
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Janky |
Edited by - Janky on 16 Aug 2006 10:04:34 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 13:27:55
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Janky go with it, not sure where you live, but I ship my goods out with Robert Clair in Bermodsey in London, last shipment in May was 80 kilos for £85.00. It takes 2-4 weeks to reach banjul so not sure when you want to reach them.  What is the name of the school, i know tailingding methodist school. i think the power of positive prayer/thoughts from the school has reached you.
You are meant to do it.
Let me know where you are based and I will try to get you some information on local shippers. I ship goods because it is cheaper and the goods are not needed in a hurry but if you need to get things there quickly you could try DHL or UPS, but it SO EXPENSIVE.
please stay focused on this one
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Janky
United Kingdom
92 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 14:09:50
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Hi Jambo
I am based near Leeds in West Yorkshire so any info that you have then please pass that on to me as I would like to help in anyway I can.
Any idea's on how to get the books etc from companys? Not sure on how to do this as I have never asked for anything before |
Janky |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 15:58:55
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janky, congratulations on taking action based on your ineer stirrings!
We also send Geopacks by ship from the US. It is about a dollar per pound in volume and much higher for low volume. We use the US Postal Service special M-Bag for books.
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T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 21:28:17
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hi janky , i have not asked to many companies for books, but have gone to my local libraries who normally have books on sale, those that have been withdrawn, ask if you can have them. in the next couple of months I will approach local schools for donations.
I have been asked to speak at some places but time is against me, well management of time.
but start with your local libraries, if you can ask you neighbours. Are you after books up to the ages of 18.
do you have anyone in Gambia that can collect the books for you if you send them over or will you take them with you. monarch might give yu an extra baggage allowance.
do you belong to any social group, church, temple, mosque, WI, iam thinking of you putting up a notice on the local notice boards.
maybe some boot sales will give you the oddments.
i tried to be constructive and go for literature, shaekspears, dickens, refreence books, maths. for children anything from 2 years old upwards it all finds a home.
good luck
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 01:14:28
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Janky, Jambo, Ranga and Bev -
found this might be of use book donation sources on the web
Directory of Book Donations - includes all countries (I know the librarian who put this together - shes a wonderful resource
http://www.albany.edu/~dlafonde/Global/bookdonation.htm
This website of book donations - Africa is from the Stanford Library in California
http://library.stanford.edu/africa/bookdonation.html
In the past, one of the barriers is cost of shipping - but maybe can figure out some new avenues with you four...
Thank you for your diligent efforts
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2006 : 11:35:02
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thanks newfy, costs of shipping are a major barrier to shipping. If Janky takes it further down the road and becomes a charity she can apply to trusts, companies and other organisations for funding towards transportation.
But this is one of the things that cost time. I am not sure if others on the bantaba have registered charities, but I am waiting until next year before i do anything. Want to see who gets into power first.  I wonder who they will vote for 
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Janky
United Kingdom
92 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 13:05:04
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Hi Guys just wanted to let you know what progress I have made.
I work for local government and am the union steward for my dept. I had a meeting this morning and while I was there I asked about how I would get some donations for sending some books etc to Gambia. I was given 2 contact names and have been told to write to them, which I am in the process of doing. I also deal with several IT companies in the UK and have good relationships with some so I asked if one company to supply me with some A4 excercise books and have been told that all I need to do is let them know when I need them so hopefully this is my start to helping the kids more that I already do.
Watch this space............................................................................... |
Janky |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2006 : 23:35:36
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Anyone interested in the setting up of a library in The Gambia can look up Bakoteh Community Library on google for some ideas. This one is inside the school known as the ‘Reading Den’
I spoke with Headmistress Chow earlier this year and they still need more Science/Dictionary/Maths/English books – this being for older children.
Keeping an eye out for second-hand books by African authors is another good buy, especially if they are going to be used by the adult community as in the case of Bakoteh, also stories with pictures of animals or African children for the younger ones.
Monarch Airways use to give 5kilos extra with a pleading letter but stopped around April 06. I believe you could read through 5kilos of books in a week, so yes books because of their weight is a problem and expensive to transport.
The following person use to post on this bantaba & made it from UK/Gambia by road couple of years back. Check out his website – make sure you scroll down….
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7565602020&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1
sab.
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2006 : 14:16:34
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hi sab, i have heard of this library, the problem is when i ship out books so many schools need them.
i think monarch airlines offer of extra baggage is a big con, they say yes, you write a letter then they say no.
i have 85 kils of books and clothes ready to be shipped
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Janky
United Kingdom
92 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2006 : 15:45:16
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Hi Guys
This is my latest progress. I have now got the backing of Unison, as that is who I am a union steward for.The International Officer for my branch is helping me obtain books,pens,pencils etc from companies that are within Unison. I have also sent a letter to the finance committee to ask for donations to ship the goods that I can collect. We are also sending a letter to Unison newsletter to ask if anyone would be interested in helping sponser a child. I also thought about sponsering a teacher so that children can go to school free. This is the only way that The Gambia will progress, the next generation been educated.
I have so many ideas and I pray to God that I can get this up and running as I feel it is so important to the kids as well as me.
I am hoping to get the donations on a regular basis so that the 2 schools that I have in mind, to start with, get the equipment they need on a regular basis.
What do you all think? |
Janky |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 08 Sep 2006 : 17:31:56
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well done brilliant stick with it, who will help you on gambia side, which schools are you helping. 
Keep on top of this, you have taped into a goodconnection inthe UK who will help, but be prepared for an avalanche of response.
Please check out all shippers before you choose one.
If you can wait it is better and cheaper to ship than send out by airfreight
BUT GO JANKY |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
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Janky
United Kingdom
92 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2006 : 13:50:04
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Ranga,
I am at work now but later today if I send you the school's names that I am trying to help will you please send them one of your packs each |
Janky |
Edited by - Janky on 11 Sep 2006 15:55:18 |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2006 : 05:17:00
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| Janky, I look forward to your email. |
T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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Janky
United Kingdom
92 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2006 : 10:51:08
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Thanks Ranga,
I will send you the names and address as soon as I can as I have been very busy.My friend in Manchester is joining me on trying to raise funds and sponsorships. What we have decided to do things together by putting a piece in the Unison newsletter and also the Mental Health newsletter as this is where my friend works.
What we are aiming for is to help health and education with as much as possible.I have a meeting on the 28/09/06 with the finance commitee at Unison and we are thinking of a sponsored event so hopefully I will be able to fulfill my dreams |
Janky |
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