In January, Dirk Depoorter, Dirk Fannes and Hedwig Theunis went on a mission to Gambia. Together with the Gammol team, they want to evaluate the operation in Gambia, visit projects from the past year, prepare new projects, make agreements with local governments and local suppliers. 

Dirk Depoorter made a travel report: Gammol > How we work > Travel reports

In Kafuta Village we are installing a new water installation. A 7-meter tower with 2 water tanks of 5,000 liters is our new standard. In addition, we are laying 1,500 meters of pipes and installing 15 taps.

Like every year, several students will be doing an internship in Gambia in February. They'll be staying at the Gammol house, which is in dire need of some renovation. We'll be installing new ceilings, repairing and securing the air conditioning, and doing some painting.

The quality of the water in Joreng was not good. A new well was drilled a little further away. The other components were retained.

The old water tower of Sanyang Beach was no longer safe and was replaced. The other components were retained.

We are expanding our water installation in Fula Kunku. The system with 8 taps in a central building will now have a double tower with 2 barrels of 10,000 liters. This way, water is still available after the deep pump has been switched off. In addition, 1,500 meters of pipes with 15 taps will be laid. The water is also accessible in more distant parts of the village and the women have to travel less.

The existing borehole and pump will be retained. 

The new school in Fuffor starts.

We are putting the finishing touches to the school in Fufford. Painting, placing benches for the students. The school is ready for the new school year.

180 students can take lessons in 6 classrooms. Three classes are for the Nursery school for the youngest from 4 to 7 years and three classes for the Lower Basic School grades 1 to 6.

In 2019 we installed the last central system in Fula Kunku, a building with a 1000 L water tank and 8 taps.

Now we are expanding the installation to our new standard; 2 towers with 2 5000 L barrels, 1500 m of pipes and 15 taps spread across the village.

The school in Fufor will be given a roof and the sanitary facilities will be finished.

In Daru Busumbala there is another water installation from 2012: a stone building with a 1000 L tank on the roof and some taps under a roof. The pump is defective and is being replaced.

The water installation in Sanyang Nimisat will be expanded. We are installing a second tower and 4000 L tank so that the storage capacity doubles. An additional 300 m of pipes will also be laid with 3 additional cranes.

Part of the costs are borne by the local community with the money they raised last year.

We are starting the new rice project. Two pieces of agricultural land, near the Gambia river, are being prepared and planted with climate-resistant rice.

We are really still in the early stages of the test and we are keeping the investment in this phase limited. The aim is initially to see whether this can be self-sufficient in the long term, which is essential for us. More news about this later. We hope that in the long term we will also succeed in making a positive contribution with this project.