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Tairema
24 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Jan 2006 : 16:19:41
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ncompass, You are in a thight fit here. I understand and respect that you can not give out names or places. After reading your story my first reaction is:
As an outsider and NGO/charity you can not involve yourself in politics at any level. not with the village and not with the governmental reps. Not only because you cannot afford to get yourself mixed up in (local) politics but also because you do not know which party is telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The only thing that you have a right to decide about is your project and how it is implemented. You can make clear and signed agreements with all parties on how your project is being used and by who. You have the right to check up on this and if you find that these agreements are broken you can undertake action and implement penalties such as withdrawing funds / benefits or threaten to relocating to another villlage/ area. Be prepared that you will have to set an example with this before you are taken seriously: where there is poverty there are also cunning individuals that only want to make themselves better of at the expense of the community. Is there any possibility that you can get assitence in getting leveridge from your embassy. Even join forces with other NGO's? I know that many Dutch people are active with projects in The Gambia. You can maybe ask for help or advise on the Dutch Gambia page www.gambia.pagina.nl at their forum. My Dutch friends have told me stories like this before and they have a lot of experience in safe guarding their projects.
Good luck!
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2006 : 19:21:33
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Ncompasstraining I have deleted your name from my posting since you have explained briefy what your project does. As with all development projects you should take into consideration PEST Political, Economic, Social and Technological impacts that may affect the project's outcome. You can also get in contact with TANGO who maybe able to advise you further.http://www.friendsofgovi.org.uk/links.html.
peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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ncompasstraining
12 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2006 : 01:53:19
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Hi Tairema and Sister Omega
Thank you for your helpful suggestions, advice and links. I will follow these up and see if we can learn from other experiences, and potentially link with another organisation to tackle some of the sensitive issues.
Sister Omega, I had to smile when I saw your Friends of Govi link - and I was wondering if you are in any way involved with this organisation. I correspond with one of the teachers in Govi and in November the young people we took with us helped to re-arrange their library as part of their volunteering project, and they did a textured collage with the children. They all reported that the work in Govi was the highlight of their trip.
Anyway, thanks again
Regards
Suryiah
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AbeCham
United Kingdom
19 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2006 : 14:42:00
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hi Suryiah
thanx for the good work you doing in The Gambia. You must not allow your project to be hijacked by anyone. You need to make it absolutely clear to the MP that The project needs no government inteference and have your own people run it.
It's important that you do not get involved in Gambia politics as you would be hearing diffent things from various people which might not be necessarily true. You probably knew people in the Gambia who you trust. Deal with them and let the chief in the village know where you stand |
Saul |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2006 : 18:21:01
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Hi Suriyah,
No I am not a member of Govi but I have been aware of TANGO since the early 199O's. I hope they will be able to give you the information you require. Keep up the good works. And when you get in touch with the let me know if they were of any use to you.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2006 : 15:41:10
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Peace to you all,
Wel D Gambia is religious tollerant and we don't need any body Danish or other wise to come and teach us.We have Gambian Bishops,Priest and Imams,Oustases to teach our young ones about religion.
So you are all welcome to the Gambia if you come in peace to help the Gambian youth in technology and other sites but not religion.
No body wil be welcome to us who preaches extreamism or fatism.We all know the truth and we cannot be fooled.
'Heve your religion and I have my religion'
As for politics my friend forget it you will not go anywhere.Africa has a complete different way of politic from the rest of the world. ie GREED and HUNGER for SELF ENRICHMENT.
You got to wait we are on the road to mordernisation and things will change.But that may not be in your life time.So am sory you can't make it.
Peace and Love
God bless the Gambia, Amen!
Mankajang Janyanfara. |
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