 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 08:46:36
|
I was woken at Tendaba by the call to pray. It is hauntingly beautiful. We had breakfast and then I went for a swim and took Fatou, Sheriff Drammeh's daughter to the pool with me.She had never been in a pool before and was very nervous. I encouraged her to sit on the edge and just splash her hands and feet. Gradually I coaxed her into the water. She LOVED it! Such smiles and giggles.Another highlight of my trip.
Then we set off to drop Sheriff and Fatou back at Kwinella, but Fatou had other plans. When we got to the Health Centre she said she wanted to come with us for the day. Her mum said OK..so off we went!
We arrived at Kolior to a very friendly welcome as always. Firstly I went to the Lower Basic school to take some reading books, pens, paper etc. I spoke to the headmaster about the school. Even though Kolior is a large village the school had been in danger of closing because it is such a poor village only about 50% of children receive an education. So now they have combined with the arabic school, which has helped numbers. Also, the fact that westerners take pens and pencils etc makes a difference to some poor families sending a child to school. That is SO humbling.
My aim with helping the nursery is to build a good link with the lower basic school so children can be well prepared for transition and parents consider it automatic. Hopefully a good strong nursery school will help the lower basic schppl build numbers. Also the level of teaching should increase because the children will be well prepared to learn.
Next we went to the nursery school. The children sang for me 'welcome' and some nursery ryhmes. They look happy and well cared for. They have a lovely uniform now and an outside area to play in.
Sidou Mass toook me to the office and showed me a picture. He had a poster with the President on it and had stuck my photo next to the presidents. He said YOU are our president and one day I want you to be LADY president of GAMBIA!!! He is SUCH a funny guy!
From the nursery I went to Sidous family compound. It was starting to get incredibly hot. The hotest day I have ever had in Gambia. I was struggling a bit. You know its hot when Gambians start complaining! We sat in the shade chatting and discussing things. Fatou sat on my knee, nearly asleep. I visted Sidou's father, the blind fishermen, I was pleased to see him sat up and fairly alert, chatting with friends. He was much better than on my last visit. Sidou's brother is a health visitor and he came back with bad news about a child suffering from Malaria in the village. I was very upset by this..but in Kolior it is an everyday thing. I saw Sidous latest child, Elizabeth, who is named after my mum. She seems worryingly thin and frail, not thriving. Sidou is going to take her for checks at the health centre as she isnt gaining enough weight.[:
(]
Whilst sat in the shade I had a continuous stream of visitors with various gifts. I tried the local honey, which was lovely. I also tried the mint tea, which was refreshing, but I am not so keen on the sweet tea made form condensed milk....too sweet for me. I was SO hot I even drank some well water rather than my warm bottled water.It was wonderful. SO cold. A wounded cockatoo (?!) perched on my shoulder and pecked at my hair.A lady even came and danced for me!!Finally I was invited for lunch. We all sat round together and ate from the shared bowl. I am getting used to this now and really enjoy it now I know my stomach is strong and doesnt have a bad reaction to local food! Who needs TV and videos when you have such a community of people to give you company?
Finally we went to visit the deceased Arkals wife and new husband.
I spoke to them through Lamin translating and explained how we are hoping to build a new nursery school and work closely with the school for the good of the village. In front of them I handed Sidou another £200 on top of the £400 I sent. This should be enough to make a start on the project aslong as the villagers work together.
Then we left the village. I saw the new Arkla waiting to greet me at the side of the road and then we headed back to Kwinella to drop off a very tired little girl and then 'home' to Tendaba.
Sidou Mass came back to Tendaba with us to discuss the project over dinner without the other villagers being around. It gives us some peace and privacy to talk. We 'ordered' dinner from the village. A goat casserole and for me, barracuda grilled over the fire with rice.
Much more interesting than the camp food!
Before we ate we visited Lamin Joofs family. They have a TV now and were watching some Senegalse musicians. Wow what dancers those men are!!!! They are good friends now and they offered that i should stay at the house with them. Perhaps next time, but I do love the camp so much! They gave me a present of some beautiful material. As we walked back through Tendaba we went to see our meal being cooked. I thanked the family that were doing it. What a special treat for me!When I returned to the camp, there was my little boy sulyaman with his family waiting to greet me. He looked so smart in his very best clothes. His family had bought me a gift, which was a beautiful dress. It was so kind of them. We sat and had a drink together, then they went home.
I spent the evening talking to a girl from Tendaba who had married a boy from Pirang, but sadly she is now divorced.My guide is from Pirang and they were all talking things over alot. I am hopeful for her that they may get back together as she still loves him.
We went to the guides room to eat. There was quite a gathering to eat the goat! The fish was fantastic too.
Finally we went and sat out looking over the river and talked over the day and the plans for the nursery.
I am left a bit concerned by the discussion of village politics. Apparently the new akala hasnt been accepted well by the village because he is a government man, whereas the village ont he whole suports the opposition. He was put in place by the government. He is the brother of the deceased akala. I think he seems a nice man, he has donated family land to the nursery project for free. But apparently the villagers support the ex akalas widows new husband....that is why I was taken to see him!
I dont want to be involved in politics, I just want to make the nursery a good one for the whole village! If anyone has advice on this I would really appreciate it.
I am not sending any more money until November when I go to see how they have spent what I have already given. If they have done nothing they wont get anymore. I hope they pull together and make a start.
Anyway I finally went to bed with my bed spinning by my day in Kolior and Tendaba. Those memories are so precious and stay with me in England until the next visit. I sleep well and awake to face the journey back to the coast.
|
|
|
jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 10:01:17
|
gambiabev, your trip sounded great, but could I ask the cost of sending one child to the nursery school. I plan to go back in June if I can make it that far I would love to visit the nursery. some of the villages I visit are heart breaking, but I get such a sense of peace and happinees when I visit them. My area is Tobogala, towards Jufreh. whatever help you give is good. have you thought about sending goods from the UK to gambia. let me know if you are interested in this and I will give you the information of the shipping company I use here in the UK.
regards
|
 |
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 10:30:59
|
At the moment I am saving up things to ship out but I have no idea how to go about it. My guide has registered me at banjul so that end is dealt with. ANy advice is appreciated.
The families I help I give £10 a month to,(in two direct payments of £60) and then as the child gets older I pay for uniforms etc.....if the family request extra help. It is up to them how they spend the money as a family, I dont interfere as long as the child is attending school and thriving. I have 6 children that I help. 3 boys and 3 girls. This is enough for me financially and emotionally and practically to get round and see them all each visit!!!
All I can say is whatever I give out I get back 10 fold. My life has been greatly enhanced by my experiences in The Gambia and it has made me a stronger more determined person.
I have several families that have given me photos of children requesting help. If you email me directly I can pass on details. dearnleyfamily@hotmail.com ANYTHING would be a help to them. |
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 10:34:14
|
Jambo, if you pass by Kolior please go and see Sidou Mass. He is such a character and will make you very welcome. I am not sure what they charge for the fees, but it will be very small as it is a poor village. One way to help is to pay for lunch for a child. Some children go hungry because their parents cant afford lunch.
ALso if you go by Kwinella please call at the nursery and take a few pens, pencils etc.... It really needs alot of help. Say hello from Bev! |
|
|
|
jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 11:06:15
|
Gambiaeve, Not sure where you re in the UK, but I will email you the information of shipping from here, it is dauting for the first shipment but is okay after that. I would like to contact your friend in Gambia to give him the details as well I he has to pay money at the end for custom fees and adminstration, that changes each time!?!?. but if you are registered in banjul and have the papers that is a big help.
Congrats on the family. Keep it in focus. I forgot that and lost track of what i started doing, but now am right back on track. I am about education it is the only way forward.
regards
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
