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.

Blogging from a dry, sunny Gambia.

The rainy season is finally over, time to survey the damage done by the rain and wind and undertake repairs to fencing, buildings and roofs.

We have installed a water pump, pipes and taps and now need to find some dosh to erect the water tank we bought.

It has to go up at least 5-6 metres to ensure good water pressure and will transform our lives and give the school kids clean running water and a good supply for watering the bananas and vegetable projects.

All going well with our new website, lots of you have looked at it and we invite more of you to see what we are up to by logging onto www.gambianprojects.com.

A massive thanks to the women's group at Onward House, Greenbank who are linked up with us here in The Gambia.

They held a fundraising jumble sale for us and raised 56 pounds; that will go a long way over here.

Thank you ladies for your support.

Thank you too for the seeds, tea bags and sure deodorant!

Yesterday I took 13 nursery age children to the local beach for a splash in the sea.

For six of them it was the first time they had seen the sea the the look of surprise and enjoyment on their faces was an absolute picture.

Will upload some of our latest pictures next time I blog.

Bye for now and stay warm!

Best wishes

Debbie