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Projects
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August 23 - 2009
In our dreams, and planning, the skillcentre and caretakers house should look
like this. The toilet block is currently being built and this will be completed
in October/November. At present, the rain season and Ramadan are there,
therefore a lot of work cannot be done at this moment.
Djabou
just send us this newspaper article from the local newspaper THE DAILY
NEWS printed July 27. Not all of the facts are correct, but for us, it is great
fun that they gave us a little publicity.
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This
time Michel and I had our own things to do.
Michel was very busy concerning the transport of the materials and the water
control and he had extensive discussions about the construction as well
When the women once had seen the sewing machines they were very excited. After
that we could make some plans. Particularly with Adama who now is a member of
our daily governing board and Ami who is in charge of the Day Care Centre. The
three of us talked a lot of hours under the tree, daydreaming about what these
materials mean for the women.
At
last they can learn to make the school uniforms themselves. I will teach them
hooking, knitting, and their daughters will teach them how to embroider
They can read books or simply look at pictures.
Many
questions they are asking me now, can be looked up in these books. Many women
thanked me for the materials in the truck, a big difference has been made in
their daily lives because of this
1 sewing machine has already found a place at Mariama Jarju’s. I have seen
beautiful sewing, embroidering and hooking on the Penyem Upper Basic made by her
already. With this machine and supplied rags, fabrics, yarns etc. they will give
some lessons to other little girls, together with Adama and Ami. I am curious
what we will see in November.
In any case this is already promising when the skillcentre opens. We always try
to tell them that the knowledge which they have, should be passed on to their
younger sisters and daughters.
Mariama Adama and Amy are doing this right now !
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NEWS
OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKILLSCENTRE
JUNE 2009
All materials for the skillcentre, that were in the container, arrived in Penyem on Monday June 8th. The materials have been admired extensively and then stored in the depository with much aid of the villagers. When the construction of the skillcentre is completed, it will be put into use officially. The people were elated with this treasure of materials which you have generously donated. A big party was organised for us in order to thank you
Meanwhile the water control is a fact now. It has been constructed and water comes from the tap now. This week we will transfer the money for digging the latrines and the foundation. In October we will start with the construction of the house for the porter. The porter is a guard at the same time and hopefully, his wife will become the gardener. There are already 2 candidates for the job, the daily governing board will choose the one best qualified . Hopefully in March the actual construction will start, if there has been donated enough money.
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The
costs of the container turned out less than expected. We calculated and hoped
that it would cost 10,000 euro.
The next addition shows that the costs were less.
Container
including placement in Vlaardingen...............................1650 Euro.
Truck and transportation Vlaardingen-Antwerp.............................425
Euro.
Costs for freight
Antwerp-Banjul.................................................2100 Euro.
Administration
documents..............................................................115 Euro.
Courier costs, sending of
documents..............................................115 Euro.
Clearance and delivery Sifoe........................................................1275
Euro.
Costs of
crane...............................................................................450
Euro.
Insurance........................................................................................75
Euro
Compensation, expenses in Gambia in order to transport
the container from the port, like telephone costs, fuel ,
duty and salary Kalifa...................................................................375
Euro.
Import
taxes................................................................................1050
Euro.
Transport Sifoe-Penyem by
truck...................................................100 Euro.
TOTAL ........................................................................................7730 Euro.
Gamrupa foundation...........................................................................3865 Euro
Ourselves .....................................................................................3865 Euro.
Both organisations bought half a container and shipped half a container.
If we look back at it now it was a terrific experience and a perfect cooperation.
We
would like to thank all the people / companies that one way or another
contributed to this successful story.
We mean all the people / companies that donated equipment, clothing, books,
furniture and paint, or sponsored us financially.
Also the people who listened to my stories or who talked us through difficult
times, so that we could move on.
THANK YOU ALL
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June 08 - 2009
Rising early and heading to Sifoe , because today the container must be emptied.
The sun is radiating and the temperature is at least 35 degrees.
We are lucky because all men and strong boys of the Kassama family are coming
with us.
They feel like carrying everything on the lorry.
From time to time I had the idea that they had a day out.
They even sang. Firstly EVERYTHING had to be taken out of the container. Rapidly
3 mounts arose; SIFOE, PENYEM. and SERREKUNDA.
In the afternoon it was empty at last.
There were approximately 16000 kilos of materials spread over the compound.
When the lorry arrived it proved to be too small because its large brother that
we had rented was necessary for doing an odd job in Banjul.
Therefore we had to drive through the bush 3 times, eventually to Penyem.
A second lorry was rapidly rented and used for a ride to Serrekunda.
At 6 o'clock at night we were all totally worn out and back at our hotel.
All our stuff finally reached their destination safely.
We sold our half of the container for a reasonable price.
Therefore actually this is the end of the tale of the container and now the fun
part starts:
distributing the stuff by us from Help Gambia To Learn.
However, I want to tell very proudly that we have remained within our budget.
It was a terrible job, but we are very happy that -with aid of a lot of people –
it has succeeded
June
05 - 2009 At last this day came.
After almost a year of hard work and strain, we travelled to Gambia.
We were very tense because the last news concerning the container was not
entirely positive.
Therefore we were very curious how –and if - we would find everything.
Saturday the 6th of June we left for Sifoe in the morning where the container
was.
When
we had once opened it, we could only be glad. It was still FULL.
At that moment we were surprised by all the work to do the coming days, Now,
everything had to be selected and separated.
Fortunately all boxes and packages were marked.
The property marked with SIFOE was Gamrupa’s and therefore did not need to be
transported.
Everything marked with PENYEM or SERREKUNDA still was ours for a little while
and therefore had to be transported further to its final destination.
The work had to be done while it was 35 degrees.
At the end of this day we closed the container and made plans for the coming
days.
First we had to rent a lorry. Sunday was a day of ceremonies in Sifoe.
For us in fact a day full of rest and celebrating.
We would like to thank Kalifa Kanteh for all the work in order to get the
container from the port as cheap as possible
and for the organisation of this particular Sunday.
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May 13- 2009
Today May 13 is the container is
completely full and this afternoon it will be collected by the transporter
And
on May 16 on the boat to The Gambia now is really exciting.
We will meet the container again in The Gambia on June 5
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March 27-2009
We are back we have done much and experienced a lot.
We have been to our piece of land. It is nice this way , Fortunately the trees are still there.
-During a meeting with the Alkalo, the
school board and the villagers we have agreed on several things for June. At
this meeting,
MAMADI of the national newspaper VOICEGAMBIA
was present. One of these days, the complete story will appear in the newspaper.
When we receive it, I will put it on or site with pride
-Forming a daily governing board of 3 men and 2 women has been discussed.
These people will be introduced in June.
-They are searching for a maintenance man and his wife. Several
candidates will be introduced to us in June. Hopefully, we can start building a
house for them on the piece of land which at the same time will serve as a
storing place.
-The location for the water control and toilets has been planned. The water
control is now being connected and toilets (latrines) are being dug and must be
ready in June .
-We have found a tailor almost certainly; he will sew school uniforms with
one of the sewing-machines from the container. He is also prepared to teach
tailoring to the women and girls. He will maintain the machines as
well.
- We have made contacts for clearing and transporting the container.
- It was a busy week , but it was certainly worth it.
-Now we only have to collect the rest of the money for shipping the container and for the construction of the skillcentre.
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Sali Bayag
Isatou Jajou
Fatumata Jallow
Mariama Bah
These little girls are doing some very difficult embroidery at this moment. We hope that they will be able to do this, coming school year. Perhaps all children can embroider such a painting and let Alex sell them on the tourist market. We are very curious about the results.
UPDATE MARCH 2009. The girls are embroidering very hard, BUT they have been caught up rapidly by a little girl from first class. This girl is SAINABOU BAH, a very vivacious child that wanted to do embroidery as well,. She asked and asked the teacher for materials till she got it and at our visit in March she had already completed the painting.
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January 5th
We are one step further. The container has
been delivered.
Now we can start transmitting with the already collected material to the
container
The new project for February/March 2009
Sending our first container.
Building of skillcentre and library.
We have been promised a piece of land by the rural community in the middle of the village which we can use together with - and for the occupants of the village. Our plans are supported by the Alkalo (headman) and we are going to build a library and skillcentre ( A training centre for young people and adolescents, who have had no, or little education and now want to learn specific skills in order to learn a profession.) All required materials will be present there. At present we are collecting books and materials for the library. We get a lot of the materials from family, friends, colleagues but also people whom we not know at all because of advertising on the internet.
We would like to thank all these people. Without these gifts, we would certainly not succeed. But please don’t stop giving, because they still need a lot more
Skillcentre/library Skillcentre inside
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Project 2008
Meanwhile we ourselves are busy with sending pens, pencils, English reading books/novels and writing paper which we send from the Netherlands to Gambia or take along on one of our annual visits. From letters which we have got of the students becomes clear that these materials are needed most during lessons. Unfortunately, the education of these children is not the most important aim, but increasing their survival chances is. Up till now, we have not succeeded sufficiently to help them. Improving the living conditions of these children is done by supplying meals daily, improving hygiene and giving information about important life matters. To be able to offer these supplies to the students, there are a numberf things necessary:
Optimising water extraction:
Of just as much importance is water: to prepare food, as drinking water and for hygiene. It is the duty of the Gambian state at every school to bore a water well. At founding the Penyem upper basic school, a water well has been bored. Disadvantage of this well is that, a number of months a year, it is dry. As a result, the school children have to get water from an adjoining village 3 kilometres away currently. Our plan is to make it deeper, or to install a pump on solar energy in order to obtain fresh water.
A gate for the kitchen garden:
Daily food supply depends on a number of factors. First of all, the students would be very happy to cultivate food in the kitchen garden at the school. The students have worked on this already a number of years, but the initiatives have failed because of loose animals which trample the harvest and eat the plants. We want to get a gate for the school, so that the harvest will be protected. Unfortunately we did not succeed at paying for the gate ourselves. The plan is to collect enough money to buy one there and to let the students build it themselves around the kitchen garden.
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