By Founder, Kingfisher Trust - The Gambia "Blog"

HELP The GAMBIA - SUPPORT The GAMBIA

The first time I came to The Gambia for Holiday was in 1984 and it is still one of the best holidays I ever have had, staying at Kombo Beach and started my day to walk to the Senegambia area and back before breakfast, during these walks, I met many Gambians, in those days the word "Bumster" had not been invented.

The first was Dodou Faal a fisherman who fished with a net around Kotu Point, which was about halfway to the Senegambia area, we would extend the usual Gambia greetings with shaking hands, he would carry on, but on my return he would have cooked a few fresh fish on a charcoal fire for me, the taste of the fish was out of this world, and it really made my day.

The second was Bakary Jobarteh, who during his school holidays was helping Edi Keita to build the third Beach Bar, the first where Solomon’s and Kunta Kinteh. In those days I enjoyed walking along the beach instead of sitting down, it was also a nice way of meeting Gambians, Bakary would always asked if he could walk with me, and he would fire questions at me all the way, he just wanted to hear about anything to do with the UK, what is Kent, where does the Queen lives, and many more

Bakary also asked me if I would like to see his Compound (property), which I did, right in the middle of Manjai Kunda, where he lived with his mother and extended family. His room, they call that "House" was made of corrugated sheets, not 2^nd hand, they looked like the had been used several times over again, with many whole, propped up with newspaper and a straw mattress on the bare floor. The rest of the Compound was a small building made of local clay blocks and no boundary fence. His Father had died, and his Mother was in charge of the Compound which was unusual, this was usual taken over by one of the family man, who would then marry the women as his first or second wife.

While staying at the Kombo Beach, we were given a few vouchers to have the use of a bicycle for a day or two. As Edi’s Beach bar was in the middle of the popular part of the beach, it was also a regular stopping point for some refreshments, several other tourists would also come there for a drink or a meal, then one day someone wanted Steak and Chips, the potatoes were no problem but with little or no money and no fridge the meat had to be bought at the local market in Serrekunda, several kilometres, so I was asked can I borrow the bicycle, but I told them we were not allowed to lend them out, but I said I take You there on the back carrier. This is 1984, and at that time you did not see any "Toubabs" outside the hotel areas. The Serrekunda Market, was at that time still in its original condition (If you can call it That) On arrival at the market the bicycle as locked against a railing, and we went inside the market area, and believe it or not I was the only white person there, I will never forget the experience. It is really very difficult to describe the stalls full of all kind of goods and even more difficult the meat market, anyway we got our Kilo of Yappa (Cow Meat). So we returned to the beach bar.

This holiday was the first, and since I have returned every year for a 4 week holiday ever since until I moved to The Gambia in 1996. In the early 90's I went several times a year, to see the different seasons.

1985 was the second year, but this time I stayed at Bakotu a small family hotel run by Swedish people, Kombo Beach was very good don t take me wrong but at that time they recommended that you stayed in at night, and I had the feeling like I stayed in Colditz, a popular TV series at that time.

It was not many days that Bakary Jobarteh had found me again, it was

nearly Christmas, and he had left school since the end of June, and he had found no work, so was helping Edi at the Beach Bar, but Edi never had any spare money, but Bakary would never ask for money, he asked if I could find him a job. So I asked him what kind of job he would like, and the answer was Doctor, mainly because they have a car and also money. I told him that would not be possible because even in Europe we find it difficult to find enough money to study those many years. So I asked him what about an office job as secretary, he said no that is all for women, so I asked him what is the name of the Permanent Secretary of the President, then he told me that is Mr ........ So I said that is not a women and it is a high position, on which he agreed. So I told him to think about it for a couple of days, but he was back the next day and asked if I could try to find him something.

At that time I was sponsor of a few children through Action Aid, and had also met the Country Manager, Roger ?? A French national, when I asked him if he could use a office junior, he said we have not got the money, so I said I did not asked that. I know a boy who wants to learn, can you ask him for a job interview and if you like him I will pay Action Aid his wages for a year, So Roger said well that is different.He was accepted, at that time it was 25 Pound a month, which was a good wage, as many Gambians got much less.

1986

Bakary Jobarteh had been working now for nearly a year and it was unbelievable what he had archived in this short period of time, he stopped smoking and had spend all his money on sand and cement, to make the local building blocks and created a cement block fence around the compound, this was quite a feat in itself, but now you have your proper compound and working for the major charity, you go up in status.

He now became friendly with an other Gambian, who had studied as an Architect in Norway, and he was helping Bakary to design a Line House (small parlour and bedroom next to each other for the extended family)

They also included one for me, to stay during my visits, during the other times it was used for visitors.

This I think was the beginning of Kingfisher Trust, but it was not until 1994 that it became a charity fully registered in the Gambia. I spend the first 10 years looking around and learn the Gambian way of life, which is

vastly different then our European ways and find out that to help the Gambians is most of the time unsuccessful, to really make an impact you have to SUPPORT them, this I learned in the early 90's from Mr Jan van Kamp a Dutchman who was the EDF programme coordinator (European Development Fund) they were the instigators of the VISA Projects (Village Initiative Support Activities) The local community wanted a Nursery School or a Skill Centre, they then contacted the Area Council, which in tern approached the EDF, if and they approved the project, the local community had to provide 10 % of the project cost. For European this is a small amount but for Gambians it is a vast sum of money, but when they archived the total, they also had the feeling that they also owned the project, and would look after it, and that is the different between helping and supporting. Another example we at Kingfisher Trust would not help individuals, only clubs, schools, etc.

However when we bought in bicycles from Europe, we had to give them to some needy people, which we did, but it did not take very before they come back and say "I have a puncture" I would say go and get it repaired, oh yes but we need money for that. The following year we had an other shipment of bicycles, this time we did not give them away but sold them for a very small some of money and even offered payment by instalment, this was like the VISA project they had the feeling that they were the owners and they repaired the puncture or repair themselves

LOOKING BACK TO 25 YEARS KINGFISHER TRUST - THE GAMBIA

The VISA Project from the EDF, was all around the Basse Area in the Upper River Division, Basse Santa Su is at the end of the tarmac road. The village - or is it a town? - is the largest settlement east of Brikama.

The EDF Projects were mainly schools and Skill Centres, but when the buildings were finished, they had no money for books and tools, But the EDF suggested to the people to ask Kingfisher Trust for help, and this is one of the reasons of our success, because, we are also the distributors of all the tools donated by Tools With A Mission a charity in the UK for The Gambia. Being a EDF project we did not have to check the need for these goods.

The first Skill Centre was the Julangel Skill Training Centre with the first donation on 5^th December 1994, and many more schools in the Upper River Division and medical equipment to Bansang Hospital and it was not very long after that we received a letter from the Gambian High Commissioner:

"I have been directed by His Excellency the Head of State and Chairman of the AFPRC to convey to the Kingfisher Trust and through it to the people of Witham, the Government and People of The Gambia's thanks and appreciation for the good work that they are doing for the Gambian poor and needy".

Since 1994 we always tried to support the activities of the Gambian people project, and became one of the more popular charities in The Gambia.

The recognition and registration of Kingfisher Trust as an NGO with international status marked a turning point in the affairs of the Trust and the nature of its operation in the country.

Since the main aim of Trust is not only to work for the Gambians, but to work with them to promote village self sufficiency though literacy and skills development, and at the same time encouraging a healthier standard of living, most of the projects were directly involved with School, Skill Centres, Women Groups and Youth Groups which we considered to be key players in any development process.

In September 2007, H.E. the President issued Simon Wezel a order for special Immigration status within the meaning of the Act is based on his rendering outstanding Service to The Gambia through "Kingfisher Trust Gambia" a Charitable Association (of which he is a co-proprietor) which has been registered under The Companies Act, and which has been operating in The Gambia for several years.

After the opening of the first free Internet Café for the Blind and Visually Impaired in The Gambia, I decided to take it easier, and spend more time on my old profession of designing web sites, and several domains, on many subjects but most relating to myself or The Gambia.

Now I will give you a few points about "HELP The GAMBIA", At the beginning of the 90's we find the problms of local Gambians pestering the tourists for money (Bumsters) During my years at High School in Holland I was a member of an organisation of guides helping tourists, but not for money, just to gain experience with foreign languages and make friends around the world, we were all licensed by the Local Tourists Authority, and even got asked as interpreter when needed.

I suggested to register any Gambian with an ID card, but not only the name and photo, but also a large number which could be remembered by the visitors. This was rejected by the Director of Tourism, when I mentioned this to my friend Saye Drammeh, head of the tourist office at the Gambian High Commission. The High Commissioner and Saye said they would make an appointment with the Secretary of State for Tourism

for my next visit to the Gambia. This was done, and on my appointed time, I was told by the secretary, that the S.O.S. was called away, but had made arrangement to see the Director, we do not need your help we know what to do, any way now 10 years later to problem is not much better.

Having10 web sites with domain registration: www.GambiaPortal.com, the other 9 with extensions .gm, .co.uk, .us, etc. I asked the tourists authority I they would give me permission to use some of their photo and articles, to which they agreed, but said they would send one of their people around to have a look and see what I needed. Ida Jeng Njie, the Marketing Manager Communications came to my office I asked her for some copies of their magazines, I already had enough photo=s, but would like a forward from the director, I collected the magazines and article, however I did not use it it was below standard, but I did not get any more help, when I informed them of some mistakes on their website she came to collect them , but no thank you or further help. So a few years later I offered to do one of mine web sites www.HotelsGambia.com free, for the Gambia Hotel Association. They accepted and told me I could use one of their magazines info, but my request for new local news never turned up or any chances to the privacy rules. Last month, I went back to the UK and had an 11AM appointment in London near the Gambia High Commission and as I was early I decided to say hello to my friend Saye at The Gambia tourists office. When I arrived there I learned that Saye had left after being there for many years. So I introduced myself to the person now in charge by saying I am from the Kingfisher Trust charity, so the person said, all I can remember there was a fat man living behind the Senegal Embassy and he does web Sites, so I said you must be Ida Jeng Njie, but the fat man has lost 20 kilos in the last 6 months, I got my drink and left, thinking by myself helping Gambia does not work You got to support them, and after 25 years I still say it is rewording work.

PS, I have changed www.HotelsGambia.com away from the Association, when You now click the link it will go direct to the Gambia Experience Website.