What a contrast!

Leaving the beautiful Gambian sunshine and azure blue skies to arrive
48 hours delayed in frosty Britain was hard. Having just spent
Christmas with my family, I have appreciated all the food, drink and
goodies on offer but have to say that I find it all slightly crazy.
The sheer amount of food (and waste) is just baffling. I watched the
Band Aid documentary a few days ago and just cannot comprehend the
misbalance and unfairness of the distribution of food in our global
world. The Herald ran an article on the homeless living in Plymouth and
I realised that if they were living in The Gambia, they would not be
living on the streets. In spite of the poverty of many Gambians, they
would always offer someone a bed and food, never leaving anyone outside
to sleep, even a complete stranger. Given the recent weather
conditions I cannot fathom how we let this deplorable situation happen
in our
so-called civilised community.

I'm going to be here in the UK for a while as my dear Dad is in
Derriford, having had his leg amputated in Spain a couple of months ago
and now suffering complications. Get well soon, Dad!
On February 24th, our kind hosts Dan and Colin, along with Mama Tokus
who will be compering, are holding a fundraising event for Gambian
Projects at the B Bar, on Plymouth Barbican. It starts at 8pm and
tickets just £5 are available from Debbie on 07596 249987. The
proceeds of
the event will help pay for another container of useful items heading
out to
The Gambia in the Spring. A huge thanks to Reg Hackworthy of Plymouth
Self
Storage who has again sponsored a storage unit for us.

If anyone has any items they would like to donate please get in touch
with Debbie
by email on dwdebs@aol.com. We are also looking for sponsors for the
event as
we will be holding a charity auction and raffle to boost funds. So if
you had too much
for Christmas, feel free to donate anything you don't want/need as
auction or raffle
prizes!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the Editor and all the
staff at The Herald who
have been great supporters of Gambian Projects since we started.
Wishing you all
a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year and all the best in 2011.

Until next time

Debbie

Update on Gambian Projects Fundraising Fortnight

A huge thank you goes out this week to the following people:

Catherine and Tim Hamlyn for collecting items, packing boxes and
transporting them.
Reg Hackworthy and his team at Plymouth Self Storage who have loaned us
a storage unit while we collect all our donations together.
Bandvulc who have agreed to collect children's shoes at their tyre
factory.
Trevor Anderson for lending me his white van and for continued support
with collecting books to ship over to the schools in the Gambia.
Eve-lynn Weekes for knitting her socks off!
Paris, Vienna and Owen Read for fund-raising by organising a Where's
Santa competition.
Shirley for her continued support in many ways.

A special thanks goes out to those who have pledged to sponsor a child
throughout the year. Just £2 a month will enable a child to go to
school, have uniform, school bag, exercise books and pencils. Regular
updates on the children's progress and photos will be sent to keep the
sponsors informed of their child's progress. This is a great way for
children in this country to learn about the lives of children in Africa
and have real contact with them. Please don't hesitate to get in touch
with Debbie on 07596 249987 for further information on sponsoring a
child or email her at dwdebs@aol.com or visit the website at
www.gambianprojects.com.

Pictured are Paris, Owen and Vienna Read packing boxes into Trevor's
van and some of the girls at Debbie's school proudly wearing their new
school uniforms

FUNDRAISING FORTNIGHT Call Debbie on 07596 249987 or 01752 670858

Hi everyone, today we have launched a two-week fundraiser to raise
money for Gambian Projects with three particular aims in mind:

1) Sponsorship of individual children. This will help children attend
school and pay for their uniform, exercise books pencils and a school
bag. Just £2 per month or £24 a year will fund this and sponsors will
be kept up to date with their child's progress, receiving news and
photos throughout the year.

2) Having a school lunch is a luxury for some village children, so we
want to ensure as many as possible can have one. Just 50p will feed a
child for a week so please consider this option when you donate. It's
awful visiting local schools and seeing some children eating and some
going hungry.

3) Our third aim is to raise funds to be able to ship out to The Gambia
all the items people are kindly donating to us on a daily basis. We
currently have lots of children's clothes, shoes, books and toys ready
to go. It costs £130 per cubic metre (actually quite a lot of boxes,
works out to about £15 per large box and does not depend on weight) to
send them via an excellent company called Wynot in Exeter. If we could
raise enough money we could send out another container which works out
to approximately £50 per cubic metre which is much cheaper but costs
about £2500 in total.

Any donations, even a few coins will help us to achieve these three
current aims and really do something concrete, visible and measurable
to help these wonderful children. I will be heading back to the Gambia
on 21st November, please help us to achieve our aims by doing something
really worthwhile today. Pick up the phone and call Debbie on 07596
249987 today. MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Some Pics To Cheer Us All Up!

The front page of yesterday's Herald carried two stories, one of a man
accused of being a paedophile and the other of a school dinner lady
accused of stealing children's lunch money. Here are some photographs
from The Gambia simply to spread a bit of happiness in this current
climate of doom and gloom. These people are incredibly poor and are
getting on with their lives the best they can.

Life In The Gambia Is Fragile

Life In The Gambia Is Fragile

Life in The Gambia is more fragile than here in the UK. This hit home
to me more than usual when I was informed two days ago that my 16 year
old next door neighbour, Musa Touray, had suddenly passed away. Musa
was a wonderful boy, polite, respectful and highly intelligent. He was
always offering to help in the school compound, was so gentle in nature
and had the most amazing smile. Age expectancy in this country, one of
the smallest in Africa and about five times the population of Plymouth,
is low, around 54 for men and 57 for women. Around 8% of new born
babies don't make it to a year old, and approximately 10% of children
die before their 5th birthday. For this lovely boy to die at 16 of
unexplained causes is just so sad for Musa's extended family and many
friends but death is such a common occurrence in The Gambia that people
accept it as part of life and Allah's will. I am lucky to have a deeply
strong belief in a life after this one as have the vast majority of
Gambians and Christians in this beautiful but hard country. I am eager
to get back to The Gambia to give my support to those close to Musa and
to try to make life better for the children who are there. I know many
of you read my blog and I would love to hear your comments. Until next
time, love Debbie xx

A visit from Plymouth

August saw Adrian Miles from Plymouth, along with his daughters Madz
and Jordan and her friend Sinead visit The Gambia during their summer
break. They divided their time mucking in with work in the school
compound and visiting places of interest around the Kombo area of The
Gambia. They constructed a new support for the well, helped repair
parts of the rain-damaged house, organised resources and spent time
teaching and playing with the children. The girls cried when they saw
a beautiful sea-turtle which had been caught and stuck in a plastic
bucket. They negotiated with the owner to release it and half an hour
later it was swimming to freedom in the warm seas off Tanji beach. We
hung around for some time to ensure the turtle didn't get caught again
by some local boys intent on re-capturing it.
Our visitors toured the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul,
Tanji Health Centre and donated some of our medical supplies to
Africmed Medical Centre in Bijilo. We visited the SOS Children's
Village and donated a huge bag of soft toys and teddies for the
children there, most of whom are orphans. Unfortunately we arrived
outside visiting hours and the children were taking a post-lunch nap.
I
wish my children would do that, they have so much energy they exhaust
me! We also sorted lots of books and toys and presented them to
various family compounds near Ghana Town, a very poor area inhabited
mainly by Ghanian fishermen and their families. The smiles and whoops
of delight when presents like this are received make all the hard work
involved worthwhile and I wish I could bottle the smiles and give them
to the wonderful people here who have donated all these things to
enable this to happen. Their smiles are priceless!
It wasn't all work for our guests. They went to Bijilo Forest Park and
saw monkeys and birds in their picturesque natural environment right
next to the beautiful sandy beaches. I took them to Katchikally Sacred
Pool to visit Charlie the Crocodile and his pals; yes you really can
touch the crocs here with guidance from the locals. At Kartong, we
crossed the stunning Alahein River in a rickety, leaky pirogue and set
foot on Senegalese soil just as the sun was setting over the river,
truly beautiful. At Lamin Lodge, a stilted bar/restaurant set among
mangroves, our intentions to take a boat trip were thwarted by a sudden
dramatic thunderstorm which is a common occurence during the rainy
season. Many thanks to Diane Billington of Mandinka Lodges who
provided the group with comfortable accommodation and friendly service
during their stay in her lovely African lodges.

For further info on visiting Debbie's school or helping with the projects please contact her at
dwdebs@aol.com or call 07596 249987.

Focussing on training support in Gambia

A few years ago I did an excellent NVQ course in Management with Focus Training based at Plympton.  My tutor at the time, Jayne Maddocks was very supportive and got in touch with me via The Herald article a couple of years back offering to help me with some school resources for the nursery school.

Focus Training donated a hundred pounds worth of nursery resources and their staff donated bags of children's clothes, toys and other useful items, all of which were shipped out here and went to needy causes. 

When I was back in Plymouth in April, I popped in to see Jamie Rail, Director of Focus Training and Jayne, now promoted to manager,  and told them about a new project I'm involved in here setting up a tertiary educational establishment called Chosaan Academy, owned and run by Gambians and a really forward-thinking charity organisation.

Jamie and Jayne soon collected up loads of useful training resources, books, videos and dvds,  and I shipped them out using a shipping company called Wynot in Exeter who are always 100% reliable and really helpful.

When the items arrived here in The Gambia the trainers were so excited. 

They are really looking forward to using the new materials with the brand new intake of students in September.

Jayne is hoping to organise a trip over here to give us some more training support and for Focus' personnel to gain experience of working in a developing country.

Thank you to everyone involved in enabling this to happen, especially to The Herald for reporting the story which enabled Jayne to get in touch with me.

Pictured here are Jayne Maddocks and Jamie Rail with just a few of the resources they donated.

Kanilai International Cultural Festival

Hi to everyone in sunny Devon and Cornwall from sunny Gambia!

It's great to hear you've had some sunshine.  Thought I would tell you all about an amazing weekend I spent down in Kanilai, the home village of The President of The Gambia.

The Kanilai International Cultural Festival started last weekend and runs until 7th June. It is a showcase of the best of African culture along with other invited performers from overseas.

His Excellency generously throws open the gates of his grounds and offers this free festival to everyone.
I saw troupes of Gambian singers, dancers and performers representive of all the tribes along with the National Troupes from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Mali and Mauritania.

It was simply amazing, a fantastic experience to be recommended to anyone visiting The Gambia.

This week Jermaine Jackson is performing a tribute to Michael Jackson at the Independence Stadium, another popular venue in the Gambia for National and International stars.

Tending the compound

Spent Saturday weeding, watering, sweeping and planting my very neglected compound. Sunday saw me with a dozen children sorting out boxes of books and resources, spring-cleaning the classroom and finding items to donate to other schools. This morning at the crack of dawn 20 bright faces appeared to carry 500 books to their school, Madiana Primary. I have donated lots of books to them and the teachers have organised a library system which is working really well. I also dropped off two huge boxes of Maths resources to Brufut Secondary School this afternoon. This is all possible due the continued support of Trevor Anderson and the ladies at Oxfam on Mutley Plain who send us out boxes of books to help in our quest to improve literacy in The Gambia. Thank you Trevor and Co, it really is working!
Till next time
Debbie

The treats of home

I had a fabulous treat on Friday, courtesy of the lovely Adelia Chamberlain at Amber Health and Beauty, Mannamead. In my previous life, I used to visit Adelia frequently for relaxing massages, highly-effective but not quite so relaxing waxing and the most amazing pedicures. Since I moved out to The Gambia I have totally abandoned such wonderfully indulgent experiences and so I was ecstatic when Adelia invited me over to sample some of her latest treatments. Here is a picture of me being pampered with a delightful facial, which I have to say has visibly rejuvenated my sun-baked skin. With deft hands she cleverly reshaped my slug-like eyebrows using the threading method which was highly effective and made a dramatic difference to my droopy eyes. After a totally relaxing aromatherapy massage, I felt like a new person. Thank you Adelia, you knew how much I needed a treat after all the hard work in The Gambia and I enjoyed every moment. The treatments available at Amber are too numerous to list here but check out their website at www.amber.gb.net.
I can't write about Adelia without also mentioning her husband Frank and son Kieran. When we were organising the first container of charity goods going out to The Gambia in 2008, Kieran turned out loads of his unwanted clothes, books and other possessions and donated them to Gambian Projects. Frank made sure the whole family had helped us by selflessly giving up several hours of his time and energy to help pack the 40ft container. Frank, being Frank, took over the organisation of the packing and did a sterling job in half the time it would have taken had he not been present.
My heartfelt thanks to all three of you. If there were more people like you in the world, it would be a better place!

Friends get together after 29 years!

When I was at Uni in London many moons ago I spent my first year in a hall of residence and then later shared a flat with Helena Meineck who is now Manager of All Saints Pre-School in Exmouth.

After finishing her Dance studies, Helena moved to Italy where she lived for about 25 years.

She returned to England a few years ago along with her husband and gorgeous son Tommy. We got in touch via Facebook after a 29 year gap in communication.

Today, Helena drove Tommy down to Plymouth where he donated loads of his clothes, books and toys for the children in The Gambia.

Helena and I are going to link the two schools giving the children lots of opportunities to find out more about their counterparts living in vastly different countries.

We're both excited by the link and looking forward to providing lots of interesting joint projects for the children to experience.



Pictured here are Helena and Tommy with just a few of the items Tommy generously gave to the children of Madiana village.

Sunshine and smiles?

Well, I definitely brought the sunshine back with me from Africa but unfortunately as I flit around Plymouth I am struck by the lack of sunny smiles I am used to in The Gambia.

So, as a treat for those of you who enjoy a sunny face, I hope you will enjoy these photos shot by Lucy Blake, Herald Photographer, during her trip to our projects in February. Keep smiling!!

Best wishes

Debbie

Try a smile!

Hi everyone!

It seems very strange to be blogging from Plymouth Central Library rather than a hot, internet cafe in The Gambia, but here I'm enjoying sitting on a comfy chair with plenty of personal space around me and not having to pay for the priviledge either.

This morning I went to the doctors to have a few minor medical issues investigated and came away with the treatment I needed and a couple of future appointments.

I cannot blog without saying this; we are so so fortunate in this country to have all these facilities (yes, I know we pay heavily for them with taxes) and yet nobody seems to be smiling.

I'm trying to work out why the Gambians spend all day smiling and laughing with so little and yet we have so much here and walk around as miserable as sin.

Anyone got any ideas to cheer up the nation? (I know there is the General Election on May 6th but will that change anything?).

I'd like to bottle up the smiles and giggles from the children I work with and send them over here.

It is impossible to feel sad there when you see their faces and sparkling eyes. I love it there.

Don't get me wrong, I'm going to appreciate every moment I am here for the following month as it is great to open up a fridge or freezer and choose yummy food or munch on crisps and junk food.

It has been amazing to meet up with friends and family and share hugs and cuddles with those I love; it makes me realise how much I miss all those things when I am away.

However, my life still belongs in The Gambia for the forseeable future and I have lots to do there before I will consider my work done.

I really look forward to hearing from anyone interested in coming out to volunteer their services.

Particularly any teachers graduating this summer who have no jobs lined up.

We can offer free accommodation and food allowance in exchange for your time and energy. All you have to do is pay your fare.

Gap year companies charge a small fortune for such an experience so have a think about it and get in touch with me at dwdebs@aol.com or check out the website www.gambianprojects.com It is good to be "home".

Until next time

Debbie Williams

Back to reality

Just to let everyone know that I will be back in Plymouth for a much-needed break for the month of April. Look forward to hearing from all our supporters and meeting up with as many of you as possible to show you all the pics and tell you about my experiences here! Please email me if you would like to get together. dwdebs@aol.com Will try to bring some African sunshine back with me!

See you soon

best wishes

Debbie

Thank you Tamarside

Hi to everyone from a baking hot Gambia

This week has seen me rushed off my feet, teaching in the mornings and out every afternoon supporting local projects run by other organisations.

Very happy to be supporting a new library facility in Bakoteh run by Sheikh E T Lewis and his team.

They also run an International Centre for Street Children and Child Trafficking.

Modou and I went along to visit the place and had no hesitation at all in donating a variety of reading books at all levels to support the facility.

Mr Lewis is a Human Rights activist and very interesting person to talk to.


I shall enjoy my visits there. A small delegation came to us from Gambia College, the teacher training institute here.

We filled their truck with boxes of text books and teaching materials donated by Tamarside Community College.

I'll be visiting the College tomorrow to see the items on site and to meet the Head of Education. Suleiman Bah, one of the students I sponsored for three years in Kerewan Samba Sira is now training to be a teacher at the college so the link is especially important for me.


That's all the hard work we are doing, the fun stuff is blowing bubbles with the children in the mornings!

Pictured is Hildegard Thaler, one of our volunteers, back again this year to help us. We all love her!



Until next time,
best wishes
Debbie

Visitors Galore!

The past few weeks have seen us welcome lots of visitors from Plymouth escaping the cold and enjoying the guaranteed Gambian sunshine. Simon and Heather Judge donated much-needed gardening tools last year and came to see them in action. Heather had all the children dancing and Simon added a few more snaps to the 700 he had already taken on their visits around the local area. Tracey Thorn and her daughter Perrie Renzi and friend Keira Wilshaw, Year 9 students at Ridgeway School visited the school and taught the children with some brilliant resources they had prepared back in Plymouth. The children loved it and I think I may have found replacements for me when I go back to the UK in the Spring!
A special visitor who spent two weeks living in a mud hut on our compound was intrepid Herald photographer, Lucy Blake who conquered her fear of monkeys and crocodiles by photographing them up close and personal! Lucy was amazing, the children are still asking for her and I, personally, miss her cheerful nature and "muck-in" approach. She fetched water, lit fires, painted the school door and ably assisted with the children.
I look forward to meeting up with Lucy back in Plymouth in the Spring; she's promised to cook me a meal (in an oven I think, not on an open fire!). I've just dropped a further 3 kilos, having had malaria twice in two months. I think I'm over it now but it's been a long haul getting back to normal (well as normal as I'm likely to get anyway!).
Have had a few blips with the numbers of children attending school as a new nursery school opened in the village and many parents sent their children there to get the free uniform and school lunch, even though they were already registered with our school. I felt disappointed initially and then realised that it is far nicer teaching twenty to twenty-five rather than trying to manage forty-plus. As long as they are all in school, I don't mind where it is.
Till next time,
best wishes
Debbie

Happy New Year from Gambia

A cheery message from The sunny Gambia to wish all the Herald readers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year and to thank you for your continued support in 2010.
We are lucky to have Lucy Blake, Herald Photographer joining us for a couple of weeks later this month.
You'll be able to read all about how she gets on on her adventurous trip to the African bush when she returns with lots of wonderful pics to show you all.
Here are a few of my amateur efforts, hope they bring a smile to your faces.
Lots of love and best wishes from Debbie, Modou and their friends and family in The Gambia.