Doesn't time fly? Just hope the luggage will too!

The next visit to The Gambia is only a few weeks away. Insurance? Fixed! Flight? Booked! Accommodation? Probably arranged - won't be a problem! Packing? Ah. Well. Garden shed stuffed with goodies - thanks, everyone. But: no extra baggage allowance forthcoming yet. Thomas Cook usually very understanding, certainly have been in the past, but we seem to have drawn a blank this time. Can't afford to pay the £10 per kilo they suggested! I wonder if the new 'see-through' scanners at Manchester Airport will see through about 6 layers of clothing? We've been busy trying to enlist the support of M.S.F. to secure operations for a seriously ill child in one of the villages and we hope to have some positive news before we see him. He's being very brave but an operation which would be routine here just isn't available there.
The students we're sponsoring are all working hard. One girl, excluded from taking an exam because her fee had not been paid sneaked in and took the exam - very enterprising, Ami! We sent payment next day in reply to an urgent text message. Mobile 'phones are a life saver there - any to spare, please? We now know that BAYBA money transfer works as far up-country as Basse. This enables us to extend our almost immediate response to calls for help to people in even the most out-lying areas.
We have a very bright young student helping us with work on the web-site and newsletter. Time for Tom to attempt another appeal to Thomas Cook. Fingers crossed.

We have been busy - honestly!

Sorry for not keeping you up to date - time flies! However we can report (with your help and support of course) that:
M.B. has been able to waterproof her house (it's the rainy season now) and attend a course which will help her with her teaching career.
A.G. has been helped with funeral expenses and given a little help for the 40 day charity giving after the death of her sister.
Y.N. has received help with medical expenses for her young brother who has a serious heart condition. You've also given help so she can set up a stall in the local market which will provide employment for another member of her family.
O.S. received help to hire a tractor to prepare his smallholding for the growing season.
F.C. was helped with a grant to buy books for her nursing course, and a little 'fish money' so she could eat while studying!
E.F. was able to buy rice and medical care for his family.
T.S. also received a grant so she could rent and stock a stall selling cosmetics in the local market.
M.N. and his sister A.N. received school fees and money for uniforms and books so they can continue their studies at 6th form level.
Other people have received small grants to buy cement for house repairs, grants towards nursery education - the list goes on.
A provisional newsletter has been sent to contributors and friends - please contact us if you've not received yours.

Afterthought - if you're a newcomer to GOES and would like to make a donation please email us
newhutte@dsl.pipex.com

Thanks for reading this.

Another page from the newslettr.

Where does the money come from???

I wish we knew - or at least, where it's going to come from in the future! I suppose that it's natural in the charity world to worry about the future - there will for ever be a need for resources and money is a prime resource. Food, clean water, shelter, education and health care don't come cheaply nowadays.
So, many thanks to all our contributors! The collection tins bring in a steady amount - thanks to Borders, Hatters and Snips! Not only for the donations but also for the interest and support.
Thanks also for Easysearch (like Google but donates 0.5p per search) and Valued Opinions (market research which pays from 50p to £2 per questionnaire answered) and Ebay.
Of course thanks to Joan and Bob and Val and Ruth and Richard and Sarah and Sheila and VRWG and everybody else (you know who you are and I'm not mentioning those of you who have asked not to be mentioned).
Credit crunch or not we promise to carry on.
Today I was looking at articles about owning 'only' a hundred things. I look around our small but hugely cluttered little house and feel ashamed. Many of our friends in The Gambia would consider themselves wealthy if they owned a hundred things.
Good health, long life and happiness to all of you.

Save a life . . .

Plans for the future.

We spent a pleasant afternoon with Jenny, our D of E Gold helper. Friut scones with jam and cream didn't spoil the enjoyment either! It's such a hard life being a charity trustee ...

Jenny's been doing some research about web sites and the pros and cons of free sites v. the paid for variety. Any one like to sponsor a web site?

We're going to run a feature about Manneh, the chap who makes mosquito nets in Banjul market. Over the years he's become a family friend, advisor and problem solver. He and his brother run the business, making excellent nets at a fraction of the price you would pay here. I really must find a good photograph to illustrate the article - I know I have some - somewhere!

We're also planning to move our activities even further up-country, away from the touristy areas. The picture above shows the damage done to a friend's property during the rainy season. Without building insurance where does the money come for repairs?

You're right - from the contributions you make to G.O.E.S. Thank you. Every penny you give to GambiaGOES finds its way to some body in need. We do not deduct anything for costs. That's part of our responsibility. Your £1 (converted at the moment to 42.5 dalasis) goes where it's needed. We do not drive around in a 4x4.

When we're in The Gambia we use bush taxis and when we're here it's either hop on the bus or coax the 12 year old Skoda into action! (Excellent car, greatly under rated! Honest!)

newhutte@dsl.pipex.com for more information.

Where does the money come from?

We take a lot of time to show where the money goes (GOES?) Well, it's mostly your money.
We do more than coming round to you rattling a collecting box! Apart from from your very generous donations (still waiting for HMCR to stump up the Gift Aid) we have used Ebay and Amazon quite a lot over the last twelve months. We're trying to empty the shed and fill the GOES Co-op account. Why the Co-op? It has very good green credentials AND the travel insurance, which we had thought would be massively expensive after our health took a plunge last year, was very reasonable.
Amazon we using for books; sometimes take several weeks, months even, to sell but sell they do.
Ebay takes me a little longer to organise but has brought in much needed funds. Old curtain poles, a canoe, all sorts sell. Even my beloved but old two-stroke scooter pootled off to a new home.
The news letter is taking a while to produce chiefly owing to the printer having a hissy fit. I hadn't noticed - I'm colour blind - but photographs were turning out pictures of people with green faces! All will be well, soon ...
If you would like to help please email us at
newhutte@dsl.pipex.com