Dirk Depoorter
Sunday March 17
Today presented itself as a slightly quieter day. In the end it turned out to be different. We visited projects closer to Sanyang, which made the journeys shorter, but we spent much longer on the projects we visited. And the meeting with the VDC took a turn that no one had anticipated.
Banyaka Village and Banyaka Gidda
First visit is to the two new water installations of 2 x 4,000 liters in Banyaka Village and Banyaka Gidda. To drive there we pass a Christian village, with a school founded by the Salizians of Don Bosco. Impressive school and a completely different format than what we are planning. The road to Banyaka is paved, which indicates that this is a large village. This is confirmed on site: more than 250 compounds (very roughly estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 inhabitants) and expanding even further. The village also borders other villages, making the boundaries difficult to demarcate. In any case, a village in full growth. But too small for Nawec (the national water company) to be present here.
There is a medical center, where they also come from other villages, a beautiful covered marketplace, 2 large community gardens, a very nice school (sponsored by a Dutch non-profit organization)… To the classic question about expansions, I ask Kunkujang Mariama ( teacher) the question why they do not ask the villagers for contributions, mainly because I see that there are decent houses by Gambian standards. His answer: what you see are the richer compounds, from the first families who came to live here and therefore also became landowners. These live in the beautiful homes we see. The majority, however, live in barracks and ask themselves every day how they will get one (1) meal on the table for their family that day. It is not possible to ask these families for a contribution. And if they earn anything by growing and selling vegetables that they grow in the community garden themselves, they use this money as a school contribution so that their children can go to school.
After visiting the installation in Banyaka Village, we ask them to walk to the community gardens and then to the school where our second installation is located. A walk of a few kilometers that gives us the opportunity to speak to a few people along the way to gain more insight into the community and life here more generally. More interesting to us than the many “thank you” speeches that will follow later.
For example, Lamin Barrow, who works as a clerk at the US Embassy, talks about how the village came into existence and the compounds were built up. The first five families settled here about 45 - 50 years ago. Only because they were the first did they receive the (free) land and therefore became major landowners. Now this is no longer possible, except in a few very remote places. The first to arrive became the owner and later also alkalo (mayor), as more and more people came to live in that region. Alkalo, a title that is also passed on from father to eldest son.
The land is their wealth. And sometimes also the source of many problems. This is one of the reasons why they put a fence around their property, in addition to protecting it from animals. At best, subsequent generations of the first families divided the lands, at worst they remained in the possession of the eldest son of the next generation. And here you see the problems coming.
Hierarchy in families is often an issue. The eldest son normally inherits everything, but if he dies before the father dies, everything goes to the next son, the new 'eldest'. The original line is broken, allowing the children of the first son to follow what they would normally have inherited from their father. It goes without saying that this can lead to conflicts within subsequent generations. And where the first families were large landowners, this has seriously diluted after a few generations given the number of children. In some cases this has led to lawsuits. The eldest son sells land to get money, at best he supports the entire family, at worst just his family. Moreover, there are no or too few jobs, resulting in the poverty we see.
We pass their first community garden and arrive at the second. Beautiful gardens, lots of women working, it all seems well organised. The first thing I notice in both gardens are the water towers and the solar panels. In the first garden 18 panels, in the second garden 24 panels. Serious installations, much larger than ours. But dirty, full of dust and sand. It is impossible for these installations to deliver their full capacity to pump the water. In addition, the pump itself also seems to be defective, because it pumps up very little water. In the second garden they have a serious shortage of water, despite the fact that there is a concrete water tower, which is much higher and many times larger than the installations we install. I estimate a concrete barrel of 30 to 50,000 liters. But still a shortage of water?! I give them the well-intentioned advice to clean the panels regularly, every day if necessary. To which the laconic answer: we will start tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Until this reaches the ears of one of the women, who immediately calls in about 20 women who are working in their garden and they immediately get to work. Taking the bull by the horns is more reserved for the women than for some of the men. In any case, if this does not solve the problem, a technician will have to come. Their request for an additional installation here is really not necessary. The problem lies elsewhere. I ask Omar to follow this up, because if this installation worked properly, they could not only serve their garden, but lay pipes to the more remote parts of the village. So sad they let this go.
In the meantime, we continue to the school, where our 2nd installation is located. And Lamin continues to talk about how they try to survive here. How the women take out a loan to buy seeds, maintain their garden like their child, grow, harvest and then sell their vegetables at the market to repay their loan. If there is anything left over after they have repaid the loan, they can use this, for example: pay the school fees. And then they shouldn't have bad luck with the harvest. Reason why they grow a lot of onions. After all, this is an easy vegetable to grow and can be harvested several times a year. As a result, many women do this, which does not benefit the price.
In the garden, Dirk talks to Almamo Touray (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), secretary of the VDC of Banyaka and project leader, in the context of a rice project that they want to start up. Given the major food shortage, this could be something we can do something about. After all, rice is their main source of nutrition. And we have talked before about the fact that we want to provide the children in our schools with at least 1 decent meal a day.
We arrive at the school where our second water installation is located, Banyaka Gidda. Where an extensive delegation is waiting for us. There is even a journalist and cameraman present. So this will again be a ceremony with many expressions of thanks. Our message that this is not necessary for us is useless. Their gratitude and tradition are so much more important. Out of respect, we accept this, every time. There isn't much else to do.
This includes Lamin Camara (VDC Chairman), Sanne Camara (Alkalo), Botto Bojang (Council), Fatou Njie and Nyima Tourray (Chairman Woman's Committee) and Lamin Barrow. The classic messages of ABARAKA (thanks), the importance of water for the children, for their economy, prayers for us, asking for extra help for the gardens, thanks to Allah and the various committees that made this possible? Their faith is really remarkable, at least as far as I'm concerned.
I also learned that there are 17 communities around Banyaka, all of which also need clean water. We also receive a thank you for the fact that we did the entire route on foot, which indicates our interest in the village to find out what their needs are. The demand for extra help continues to grow. In any case, here we find a village that has taken many initiatives itself.
In our message I repeat what we say everywhere: the importance of properly maintaining water installations, the importance of taking initiatives yourself. I wish them congratulations on the initiatives they are taking themselves and also make it clear that we receive many requests and have to distribute our support and also focus on those villages that need support the most. In that sense they are already much further along than many other, poorer, villages.
To conclude, we have the honor of cutting a beautiful ribbon, the official inauguration of the water pumps. Gammol receives a certificate that expresses their gratitude, we receive vegetables as a gift, there are again the final words of thanks by Lamin Barrow and we conclude with the obligatory photos.
Our visit to Banyaka took us some time, but we also learned a lot. Very useful, but in the meantime they are waiting in the next village!
Falaa
Student Yusupha Bojang gives a beautiful speech.
Falaa! The village where we built a new school last year, in 2023. We receive an exuberant welcome: when we get out of the car we have to pass through a singing and dancing guard of honor with all the students and teachers. Children are allowed to sing and dance, despite Ramadan. I estimate about 200 students. Heart warming. And we are preparing for the many speeches…
Next up, in order: the Imam Seedy Saidy, head of school committee Yusupha Jassey, representative of the Alkalo Fafansu Jabang, head of school Mohammed Faye, VDC Chairman Jonsaba Sillah, health worker and leader of Nimisat project Sarjo Sarr, director of the region Shukh Omar Jarju, leader of the mother committee Sainabdu Sillah, regional counselor Botto Bojang, and the most important one at the end, a shy 15 year old boy who has prepared a beautiful speech, Yusupha Bojang.
Such a new school is certainly not an everyday event, hence the rather official inauguration with all the ceremonies associated with it. After Dirk cuts the ribbon, we'll get started!
Most important messages from the many speeches:
- The duty and responsibility of parents to send their children to school;
- Knowledge is essential, even more so in these times than before;
- The importance of a good structure and the evolution that is still required for this;
- Teachers must have the support of the entire community;
- Further resources must come from the community to improve the lives of the children, for they are the future leaders of the country;
- Challenge to develop the children intellectually, emotionally and physically (nutrition) level;
- The importance of education and English to increase opportunities for children is emphasized;
- The school must now develop further, and Gammo help is of course always welcome;
- The ambition to grow the school, resulting in the need for additional classes later;
- The “historic” of the event for Falaa is emphasized several times, with an emphasis on what is needed now: development, discipline, determination.
Our Omar is also thanked extensively: he is not the easiest person, but he has a mission, is honest, “very dedicated” and gives 100% for it. Well-deserved thanks for Omar, but also for Lamin, our silent strength.
The regional counselor promises 5 free scholarships for the 5 best students, so that they can continue their studies later.
In our speech I respond to what was said. I hereby emphasize the expectations of our sponsors who made this possible. I remind them of their responsibility, not only for their own school, but that they must become an example for future projects so that our sponsors remain willing to support us, so that we can build even more schools in other places in Gambia where this is also necessary. is. In addition to the many sponsors who have made this project possible, I would like to explain very specifically what Lotus means for their school community, because it specifically sponsors our school projects, in line with their own social vision. I emphasize how important it is that both students and teachers are motivated. And the supportive role and responsibility that parents and the community have to provide maximum support to both students and teachers.
Yusupha Bojang is the final speaker. He is 15 years old, has prepared very well, is quite nervous, but has done brilliantly.
This is an excerpt from his speech: "Mr. chairman; distinguish guest ladies and gentlemen; Education is the key to success, no society can develop when population are without requisite knowledge; without support to achieve the goals of the school will be a challenge;Mr. Chairman, distinguish guest ladies and gentlemen, Omar Saidy visited the school one afternoon last year with two gentlemen from Belgium came across the major obstacles of the school the situation of the school at that time was alarming. Gammol team struggled so hard in different avenues in search of funds purposely meant to support the children of the Gambia to acquire knowledge; their aspiration; commitment and determination towards the improvement of the school no more a dream but a reality with the provision of modern classrooms, office and a Kitchen in the school; as PTA provides us with meals every day..." (Full speech Yusupha Bojang...)
To conclude, we tour the school again, where we are asked to install a chimney in the kitchen (which is really necessary). We agree to this, provided they provide the necessary stones. Then we visit their school garden, where they teach the children how to garden. A small piece of land that the neighbor allows them to use. Here they ask if we can't help them with a larger piece of garden. This of course depends on the price of the land that the neighbor would ask. I tell Jonsaba to inquire, but make no promises. And of course they need a larger water installation, with which they can serve both the garden and the village. We won't go into this now.
We conclude our visit, with further thanks and leave for our headquarters in Sanyang, where we meet with the new Village Development Committee of Sanyang. In addition to the introduction to the new VDC, we have a few important points to discuss, the main ones being the future of the Gammolhuis, where our HQ is located, and the situation on the fishing market.
We are welcomed by the new VDC and by Lamin Jalang, the Alkalo of Sanyang Village. Although we have been coming to Gambia for several years now, this is the first time we have met him. In retrospect, it was not surprising that he was present.
A rich man by Gambian standards. We were also able to determine this when we went back to our lodge. Omar showed us his compound, or rather villa, along with the gardens he owns. We learned from our visit to Banyaka how some Gambians have become rich, from father to son.
We also meet the new VDC members: Jonsaba Sillah (woman and VDC chairman), Yusupha Jassey (we knew him from the previous VDC) and all new faces: Lamin Jarju, Lamin Saldy, Lamin Darbie and Botto Gaye. In addition, also present, Babucan and Gibril Sanyang (2 brothers), not part of the VDC, but we would soon know why they were there!
After the obligatory prayer, the Alkalo started with an explanation of the plans they had to establish a 'skill center'. Every year, around 1,000 students graduate in Sanyang and they want to use the skill center to teach at least a large part of them a trade. Objective for telling us this: need for support to (expand) this. But he did not get much further in his story, because Babucan Sanyang interrupted him. Which was not appreciated, because it shows too little respect for the elderly in general and certainly the Alkalo specifically.
But Babucan was unstoppable. He was, to put it lightly, angry. Very angry. On the VDC, on us, on the alkalo. Both in English and Mandinka, the local language. We didn't understand anything, and not just because half of it was in Mandinka.
But gradually everything became clear:
- Our predecessor, Jean, had the Gammol House built on a piece of land that did not belong to Gammol. A piece of land that he had received permission to build on. All these years this was/has been our headquarters, where our office is, our equipment is stored, the nurses and students can stay when they are in Gambia.
- Last year we signed an M.O.U. with the former VDC. (memory of understanding), which, among other things, allowed us to keep the Gammol House as long as we continue our activities in Gambia. This involved quite a few discussions with the then VDC to reach this agreement. This was important to us, because it is necessary to invest in the beautification of the Gammol House. So far everything is ok.
- However, it now appears that the land on which we built does not belong to the community. We were convinced that this was the case, as the VDC had never indicated otherwise. Furthermore, they demonstrated that they had the mandate to implement the M.O.U. to sign. However, the land belongs to Babucan's family. We fell from the sky.
- So Babucan was furious with the former VDC, with the Alkalo, with the elderly, with us... We were able to make it clear quite quickly that we knew nothing, which he ultimately believed and after which his tone towards us completely changed. But clearly not for the rest. And the new VDC stood there and turned to it, because they had nothing to do with this either.
- The Alkalo was clearly not satisfied that this was brought up in a meeting with a different agenda. So he is also angry. Made it clear to Babucan that his great-great-grandfather received the land from the Alkalo's great-great-grandfather, and that, when push comes to shove, he has no right to the land on which the Gammol house stands. High-voltage argument.
- At a certain point the Alkalo stopped the conversation, promising to meet again with Babucan and the elders the next day, after which we would receive feedback on the outcome of their discussions.
- Although we (or rather the Gammol House) are the subject of the argument, we are completely outside of this. What we need is certainty that we have a place from which we can continue our work in Gambia. Without running the risk of being on the street one day. This is actually one of the reasons why we have been thinking about buying land ourselves and putting something on it for a few years now. But we are not there yet.
All this took quite some time. Once back at our lodge, we discuss what the next steps could be. The grounds we visited previously now seem to be an option again. But we have another appointment the next day where we expect to receive feedback about their mutual conversation.