Some fact's about the Gambia
The Gambia, in West Africa, is the smallest country in Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Senegal, with the River Gambia running all the way through. The Gambia is a very beautiful country with a wide array of bird life. It's beaches are very famous, and tourists from all over the world are attracted to them. Despite all this, The Gambia remains a poor country. Only one-sixth of its land is arable, and the poor quality of the soil means only one crop can be widely grown: peanuts. As a result, The Gambia is very vulnerable to changes in the world peanut prices. The Gambia has a poor health care system, has lots of internal and external debt to pay and relies on foreign aid and charities. The Gambia also relies on its tourism as the main means of employment. The country has a population of approximately 1,735,464 (July 2008 est.). The life expectancy is 54 for men and 57 for women (est 2008.)
About HELPING
Helping is a Hertfordshire based charity supporting schools and communities in The Gambia, West Africa. The charity provides direct, practical assistance in the form of educational equipment, clothing, school building and sponsorship. It is run on a voluntary basis and is dependent upon the support of its membership and donations from the community. http://www.helping-gambia.org.uk/
The charity was started by Chris and Margaret Meeks after a visit to The Gambia in 1998. They saw the poor state of some of the schools and decided to try and help. They raised money to build a double classroom and library at Fass School and supplied some much-needed equipment. Following requests to help with other schools and nurseries, Chris, Margaret and some friends formed HELPING in 2003 and registered with the Charity Commission. The charity now assists four schools and eight nurseries two of which are at Fass one in the school grounds and one in the village which was built with Lisa and Gavin's wedding gift money (daughter of Chris and Margaret). All our nurseries are provided with school uniforms, furniture, and equipment. The teachers are assisted by the charity (some are sponsored and we are always looking for sponsorship for teachers). We are trying to give all nursery children a free nursery lunch if we can raise enough funds. One of the schools is twinned with Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Ware, Herts. The charity has also assisted a group of elderly people in Serrekunda, providing a well and seeds and given vegetable seeds to a group of young people for their village and for the school vegetable garden. Helping has also built a well at Jenoi, built three kitchens at schools to enable them to have a school meal. HELPING supports Gambian scout groups, one group in Fass is befriended with Thorley scout and cub group, one in Chessay Ma Jaw is befriended with Stanstead Abbotts and one at Medina Seringe Mass with 3rd Ware scouts They have raised money so all the Scouts in befriended groups have a uniform and they also send out badges and equipment to them. Helping are trying to get more scouts in England to befriend scouts in the Gambia. The charity also has over 200 children sponsored, some of them are taking their college exams in Plumbing, I.T, Art, Accounts, Graphic and Design. This will help them in their future. HELPING also supplies a large amount of clothing and shoes to the poorest villages.
We have three assisted Gambia helpers Sarjor and Karamo who do all the day to day running looking after projects, pay school fees and making sure all is running smoothly and Alahigie who is the driver our Land Rovers.