LATEST NEWS

The Lodge
As our previous photo shows, The Lodge is nearing completion and reports from our staff in Gambia are very favourable.  We understand the builder has done an excellent job and exceeded the specification, building us an extra room for use as an office, plus patios at the front, all free of charge.  The builder hopes our Lodge will act as a showcase for his company and their skills, in case any of our future visitors want to build a house in Gambia.  Chris and Margaret are planning to visit in August to carry out a final inspection before signing off the project and paying the balance of the monies owed.

Fund Raisers
We have received a number of fantastic donations recently but continue to be surprised by the inventiveness of our supporters and fundraisers - their ideas are sometimes simple but very effective, for example, we received a sizeable cheque from people who run exercise classes and charge a small price for a drink following classes, alongside a request that people donate any small change their have in their purse or pocket - this simple idea really swelled the amount they were able to raise!

We have recently purchased a heavy duty gazebo to cover our fundraising stalls, having suffered downpours at many events over the past couple of years!  It's bright yellow and should make us easy to find!

There are still tickets available for the Ceilidh Barn Dance in Stanstead Abbotts Parish Hall on June 22.  This features a live band and caller and a donation bar.  Tickets from Margaret 01920 871245.

We will be taking part in Hertford Carnival on June 23 with a crafts stall on Hartham Common after the parade.

Look out for the HELPING crew at Ware Week carnival on July 6 where we will have supporters walking in the parade and running a stall. 

On July 20, 3rd Ware Scouts are holding a Tea at their building in Broadmeads, Ware.  This troop has already raised £500 to install solar panels at their twinned Gambian school, and HELPING has been invited to use their outside space during the Tea to have a stall to raise money to provide computers at that school. 

Looking further ahead, we are holding another Church Lunch at Stanstead Abbotts church on Thursday August 1 from 1pm - 2pm.  Lunch is free with guests giving a donation afterwards.  We have run these lunches before and they are very popular.

AND FINALLY - one of our Gambian vehicles has come to the end of the road, quite literally!  We now need to find a replacement which can withstand the rigours of African roads, is not too thirsty for diesel and can carry a fair amount of boxes and rice sacks!  It needs to be something we can buy spare parts for in Gambia, which really narrows down our choices, and the favoured vehicle would probably be something like a Mercedes Sprinter.  If anyone has any contacts in the motor trade who might be able to help us secure a suitable vehicle at a charity price, please get in touch with Margaret on 01920 871245 or via email at margaret@helping-gambia.org.uk. 

LOGDE NEARING COMPLETION ...!

Here's the latest photo of HELPING's Lodge which is nearing completion.

 

MEDICAL HELP DESPERATELY NEEDED

HELPING has a medical fund which pays for treatment for sponsored children and their families when necessary.  However, the Gambian health care system has limited facilities and being such a small country, difficult cases often need to be treated in other countries who have suitably experienced specialists.

This is Abdoulie Sarr, one of our ex-sponsor children who has a paranasal tumour. There is no treatment available for his condition in Gambia.  We have already sent him to the hospitals in neighbouring Senegal but there is no surgeon there with the expertise to operate on him.  

However, we are told his condition is operable if a suitable surgeon can be found elsewhere.  We are making enquiries to try and find a doctor who can treat Abdoulie as he is in a lot of pain and cannot sleep. 

If anyone has any idea how we can secure treatment for Abdoulie, please email

Margaret@helping-gambia.org.uk

Thank you.

OTHER NEWS ....

• During Chris and Margaret's visit earlier this year, HELPING delivered sacks of rice to every sponsored child's family.  The cost of rice at present is £20 per 50kg sack.
• A meeting was held between the Meeks and Gambia's Permanent Secretary of State for Education who expressed his approval and gratitute for the efficient way HELPING's nurseries are being run.  He urged HELPING to apply for NGO status which, if granted, would give the charity a duty waiver on items we ship to Gambia, our vehicles would be tax free and we would benefit from vehicle priority on the ferry.  Sarjor is working on our application for NGO status.

LOGDE UPDATE

As previously reported on the Blog, the ferry service across the River Gambia continues to cause difficulties getting around the country and for HELPING staff trying to visit projects on the North Bank.  After several hair-raising crossings earlier this year when the ferry was dangerously overcrowded, broke down, drifted out to sea or simply failed to run, we are looking forward to the completion of our own accommodation block on the North Bank which will make ferry crossings less of an issue.

The Lodge will be a basic accommodation block consisting of five bedrooms able to sleep a total of 15 people in a combination of single and double beds, some rooms having three singles and others having a double and single bed.  Each room will have an en-suite bathroom with hot shower, basin with hot and cold running water and western-style flush toilet.  There will be disabled access and electricity will be provided by solar panels.

The aim is to have the roof on and the building finished before this summer's rains.  A kitchen will be built later and HELPING is buying cookers which are similar to bucket barbecues which can use compressed crushed peanut shells as fuel.  This type of fuel is cheap to buy as it uses a waste product from the peanut farming business - currently it costs only 5 dalasi per kilo (approx 10p).  It's more environmentally friendly than burning wood as it saves trees being cut down and produces far less smoke than wood fires.

We have already started to receive enquiries from people wanting to stay there this year!

SUCCESS STORIES - Omar Corr

Omar Corr is another of HELPING's success stories, although he began life with more advantages than many young Gambians.  

Omar's own family were able to send him to school but once he had graduated, he wanted to do an IT course and teacher training, which is where HELPING came in.  The charity financed his further education and Omar, now in his mid-20s, is now employed by HELPING to teach IT at Fass Basic Cycle School (which educates students to the equivalent of UK A-level).  Omar is also trained in computer maintenance.

WOMEN'S SKILLS CENTRE NOW OPEN!

HELPING is proud to announce that our Women's Skills Centre in Chessay Ma Jaw is now up and running.  The building consists of one large work room with store rooms and toilets.

Around 20 women are using the sewing machines there.   A popular item is what is known as a 'praying dress' - their best outfit which is saved for prayer time. At present, the women and practising and becoming familiar with the machines - vintage Singer treadle machines which are not dependent on electricity!  Once their skills are perfected, they will be making items for sale to bring much needed income to their families.

They are also crocheting, knitting and teaching each other their skills.  Their next plan is to begin soap making and to learn tie-dye.

The Centre also acts as an unofficial trading post where the women can swap vegetables they have grown to bring more variety into their family's diets.