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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Oct 2008 : 19:09:59
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Some very informative replies guys on your experiences and I feel the common thread going throw these articles is not exercising proper judgment. As Anna asked how many of us would actually give cars and mobile phones to people where we live. Yes there are deserving people all around the world who need assistance to rise themselves at of poverty.
As Bev rightly pointed out Sustainable livelihoods is the way forward as we all know that unemployed is the key issue in Gambia. The sticking plaster of Tourism dependency cannot solve the problems of the skills gap Gambia is facing. Why on earth should someone demand a mobile phone or car to set up a business without putting in the effort to work for it? How is this in the long-term going to eradicate poverty in the future?
Bodwich thanks for sharing your pictures and stories with us and keep on going your projects can only improve with the experiences you have accumulated and learnt from.
Jambo exercising a business orientated approach with some detachment from the individuals involved will be beneficial for your future projects because it will give you a better sense of perceptive.
I think all of you deserve a pat on the back because you geniunely wanted to make a difference to make Gambia a better place.All of us have had both positive and negative experiences of Gambia. Even with the negatives these have given us the opportunity to look at ourselves our foibles and our strengths. Despite everything Gambian made differences to our lives and others.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2008 : 23:21:54
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Interesting topic...and very good timing since I been thinking through this for some time. And next sunday I will be heading to Gambia...I have decided to use my little money only on my kids and myself. I will harden myself and not feel for anyone. I donīt even want to count how much money I have thrown away trying to help...but that part of my life is over now. Why did I do it? Somehow I feldt that I was fortunate compared to some people with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing...I couldnīt bear it. I kept working 2 jobs, didnt buy anything for myself, sent money to my ex and his family, bought 2 plots and travelled to gambia twice a year. I was grazy, I even ate outmeal to lunch everyday at work, bought the cheapest food and nothing else. It took me some years to get pissed...should I continue buying new outfits to his relatives to every tobaski, when I walked around with some old african dresses year after year...wearing slippers. Saw that he used the money to fix the parents house, a new roof, doors, painting, fence...everything...while my plot is still empty ( I gave one of them to him)...it will be interesting to see if he made the corners to it (something tells me he didnīt) What a joke! Itīs all my own fault, nobody forced me to do it but now itīs over! Love to a country and love to wrong man made me stupid for some time but Iīm cured now Thank God for that! |
Edited by - inez on 18 Oct 2008 23:24:25 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2008 : 09:45:00
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Inez glad you are cured! Something tells me it is easy to feel cured at home and then when you get on Gambian soil your brain alters and Gambia casts its spell! 
I dont want to be cured of my deep love for Gambia. I just want to keep my wits about me so I dont get conned!
As I have posted before the money I gave was 'spare' money (of course I could have used it for the good of my own family). I haven't been in hardship because of giving it away.
I gave it willingly and with a good heart.
What happened with my 'ex' has left me a bit disappointed and disillusioned...but I have dust myself off, taken a break to get some distance and persective and I have nearly got recharged batteries ready to go again. 
Focusing on my key families and their children and Kolior nursery.
I know its a bit American but I would say to people 'what is your mission statement?' 'What are your objectives?' 'How are you going to achieve them?'
Keeping focused and not getting distracted by the many requests for help is the key. Being able to say NO to people is key. Spreading yourself too thin achieves nothing.
My key focus long term is to get more children to go to school in Kolior. Only about one third go. By helping the nursery more children go there and then they make the transition to lower basic.
Long term I want to build a new nursery. This project is stalled at the moment because of my divorce and financial situation. But it is not forgotten about.
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inez
279 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2008 : 20:24:31
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
Inez glad you are cured! Something tells me it is easy to feel cured at home and then when you get on Gambian soil your brain alters and Gambia casts its spell!
That has been so true, itīs all about juju Something happens to me when I get out from the plane, a big smile and total happiness fools my brain to stop functioning. I guess by now most people here believes Iīm not very bright and easy to fool but thatīs not true. Here in this cold country I never mix my economics into any relationships, here I can help people to find a job, place to live or something else constructive. This trip will be the last if I let myself be fooled again, I promise! |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2008 : 08:43:51
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once again sister O has given some good feedback.
Bev your are right hindsight is a good thing, if I had known the "mind set of the people I met at kombos" i would not have been so guilable.
But hey, right now i am concentrating on my life here, the credit crunch has hit hard, but i will survive.
I am definately interest in helping in gambia but it will be a womens co-operative up in Juimi if possible, a one help and then its up to them to continue. they did so well last time but life circumstances changed but they gave it a try. so I am happy to offer extra help.
it is good to be detached.
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2008 : 18:47:50
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| I really do not doubt the reported experiences of others on here as I know what can sometimes happen, but as a 'toubab' and in the interests of this being a public board read by tourists, I just want to reiterate my experiences. In over 15 years of going to Gambia on and off I've not had anybody pressure me for money or anything really, beyond about 3 or 4 occasions when I was asked for a sum not above Ģ100 (and gave it, but then Gambians help each other with money too as do we all). When I first went I paid some so-called bumsters to take me about but to me, it represented better value than the tour companies and as I've said elsewhere, I still know these people and they're all relatively successful and autonomous in their own lives now. I just want potential tourists to know that there are other sides to the unfortunate experiences some here have had. |
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Denise Johnson
United Kingdom
27 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2008 : 23:41:15
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I believe that just to give the money to support a project whether it is land or car etc is not enough. Before any money changes hands you have a responsibility to educate the person or family you are supporting in basic business sense.
If you gave a poor person in any part of the world a large sum of money to set up a business, they too are highly likely to fail if they don't have previous experience and are not given any guidance in what to do to set up and run a business or project. In doing this you can then decide if the project is worth the investment in order to help a Gambian family long term. I think this is what my bank manager would want to see if I went to ask him for a large sum of money!
I have had success in Gambia through giving guidance, support and teaching in business practices and ethics prior to giving financial assistance to a Gambian to set up a business. Not only does this make the family now self sufficient financially, (so I never need to put my hand in my pocket again to support the family I am assisting) but the person has business knowledge as well, (this gives confidence to the person running the operation to be successful).
Support has been an ongoing part of the process in developing the business. Although the phone calls to do this have been expensive I have had my payback ........ I now own a plot of land in Gambia which was bought by the Gambian I supported. This was bought with the profits on the business venture I helped with financially and by giving guidance on good business operations. The family also have a new house paid for out of the business profits and are sure to have a goat at Tobaski, as well as rice all year round! |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 01:19:53
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Well done Denise some sound advice there! Inez enjoy your break it sounds like you deserve one with your family.
Formby thanks for reminding us there is always different stories on the some topic some are more linear and others have twists and turns.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 08:41:08
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there is a lot of sound advise in this posting, and I thik the people who have made mistakes look back and think on some of the projects were was brain (on the beach) but it a life lesson, i do agree that a few business lessons would help, but I look back at one project and did not see that other factors come into play, illness, weather, people moving. BUT WE WILL RETURN |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 10:31:00
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quote:
Originally posted by anna
Bev, 'only 1 of the 3 cars i bought'??!!. Whatever made you buy 3 cars for Gambians? Would you buy 3 cars for needy people in the UK?
Could anyone of the above posters give me an answer to this question: what were your interior motives for all this financial helping that you did? I am really astonished at what you all have been doing (and could do apparently). Now it seems you are all disappointed. What did you expect??
Come on Anna, what are you talking about? You mean you can't buy me three cars when I need it ?
But on a serious note, I think people like Bodwick should definitely check their heads or may be their hearts ...
Nobody anywhere in the world can swindle me like they seem to do some of the visitors to the Gambia. Amazing ... |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 11:09:53
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well done denise,
it shows they is some good people in gambia its true what you say we wouldnt start a business in europe or anywhere without some kind of education , training in commerce so what make gambia different?
i never attempted business out there i just wanted to help my friends and have a place of our own for wintersun.
business in uk is toughe enough so no thanks in a developing corruptted country and it is and always was even under jawara my late wife and me was there during the last cou-deta , we was under curfew 7am to 7pm then they flew us all out.
just changed one lot of old corrupted leaders for a younger lot believe me i seen it all over the years am not a scholar but i learned to be streetwise.
and DONT BOW DOWN TO CORRUPTION. stand your ground for the correct procedures and you stand a good chance of progress in any endeavour.remember to keep your head covered it protects your brain from the heat and you may be able to think clearly. |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 11:25:38
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Sorry Kay, but we only seem to lose our heads when faced with Gambians living IN the Gambia, and not with you well-to-do guys who made it to Babylon  !! I could very well do with a better car myself at the moment !
Very good posting, Denise - wish i would have had your patience and head for business.It must have been really wonderful, to see people doing so well for themselves and their families.
FA: what's that?? 'Everybody lies'?? Not you, i hope |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 11:26:41
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kayjatta, SWINDLE  IN GAMBIA, somecases yes, but some others i did not see coming, ie the greedy relative in the background that had other ideas for the money that yu hae donated for school fees, money spent on tobaski instead of other projects.
teachers who do note register the school fees and pocket the money. But as you say you could not be swindle, AHEM, can't wait for your trael stories   |
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faderabraham
203 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 12:22:04
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quote:
Originally posted by anna
Sorry Kay, but we only seem to lose our heads when faced with Gambians living IN the Gambia, and not with you well-to-do guys who made it to Babylon !! I could very well do with a better car myself at the moment !
Very good posting, Denise - wish i would have had your patience and head for business.It must have been really wonderful, to see people doing so well for themselves and their families.
FA: what's that?? 'Everybody lies'?? Not you, i hope
ANNA I WOULD NEVER LIE TO YOU |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 12:29:38
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Yeah, i bet you say that to all the girls
Okay then, have a good time over there - and try Leybato's to stare out over the sea instead of staring at the cars at Yasmina's. Or take a taxi to Anna's (coincidence) Sandplover Bar in Cape Town. My favourite place !
Take care! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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