Next trip to Si-Kunda - November 2009

Well it isn't long now, just over two weeks until we fly out to The Gambia on 18th November. Marje, Anne, Jamie, Richard and myself will be spending time progressing our projects and visiting the schools and hospital we help to support, our list of 'things to do' is getting longer by the day! We will return home on the 4th December.

We have just provided some bicycles for those students who have moved to nearer the coast who are now in further education. They have quite a distance to travel to school, so it has been essential that they have some transport.

We intend to start a new project by the end of this year, and have three very worthy options in mind, it would be great to do them all, but we will take one at a time. We will make the final decision on which it will be as soon as we return, then news of that will be posted on the blog and website.

Updates......

The ladies of Sikunda are very busy in the Friendship Gardens and the skills centre now that they no longer have to be working in the rice fields again this year. All of the school supplies sent in the September shipment have now been delivered to Toniataba, Pakalinding, Fonkoi Kunda, Jiffen and Sikunda schools. Supplies for the hospital and Red Cross will be delivered when we arrive as they have specifically requested. Metal shelving and a cupboard are currently being made for Toniataba nursery class. Cassava and groundnuts have been harvested from the Sikunda village school garden, and proceeds from the surplus sold is being kept for the school fund.

Only four weeks until we fly out to The Gambia!

Marje is still busy making all sorts of jams, chutneys, jellies, etc and putting all the proceeds into the charity fund. Keep jamming Marje! Anyone interested in buying some home produce, please give her a call! (contact details on the website)

Kingsway United Church

On Wednesday 14th October 09, Gloz and I were invited to the Kingsway United Church to talk about our latest projects and give a presentation of photographs. Kingsway have been supporting our charity since we started and we were very pleased to meet them again and to receive some supplies which we will be sending to Gambia on our next shipment. The ladies also purchased some of our Gambian crafts which helps towards our funds for the schools and projects we are supporting. Many thanks for a lovely afternoon ladies, (and gentleman)!

Fundraising Event - Art Workshop!

Today is 10th October, 2009 and we have just finished a very successful fundraising event - an Art Workshop. Karen Evans very kindly volunteered to do this for us at my house in Wing. There was enough room for eight to attend comfortably, everyone brought something towards our lunch, and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us - at the same time raising £320!!

I never realised how hard it would be to paint still life... apples in this case, using techniques none of us had used before. I think most of us were rather pleased with the results, and we certainly learned a lot.

Thankyou Karen for giving up your time to provide us with a memorable day and a substantial sum for the charity! We will look forward to the next workshop!