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What a shock, an invite to The Republic of The Gambia, West Africa! It was prolonged from President Yahya Abdulaziz Jemus Junkung Jemmah, himself. I used to be the one feminine amongst our USA group from FSJ and Associates.
We had been requested to help President Yahya within the manufacturing of their February Independence Day celebrations, develop a world recording studio, and create an leisure academic course for the college college students in Banjul. Moreover, Vice President Isatul Njie-Saide requested us to assist within the Gambian Girls’s Empowerment program.
Being a motivational speaker and devoted charity advocate, I used to be elated! After intense preparation and quite a few photographs, I used to be off on my lengthy journey. A day and a half later, I used to be exhausted once I arrived in Banjul, nonetheless gagging from the stench of the sheepherders and the pesticide fumigation in Dakar, Senegal.
Gambia is positioned on the West Coast of Africa close to the Equator. It surrounds a delta on the desert’s edge. I used to be greeted by roaming goats and Ebu, my chauffeur/bodyguard. I used to be not allowed in public with out him. I shortly understood why.
In addition to being election yr and threats by the Opposition Occasion, the natives would seize my blonde hair and fair-skinned arms, after which wish to shake my hand. Their yellowish eyes informed their tales of poverty and illness. I stored telling myself, “Use plenty of sanitizer!” Illness runs rampant there – Aids, Hepatitis, Malaria, Meningitis, West Nile, Fowl Flu, and so on.
At ten {dollars} (US) for bottled water, I rationed it all through the day, saving drops for brushing my tooth earlier than mattress. That was okay, as a result of restrooms had been nearly non-existent. If I discovered one, there could be no rest room paper and had rancid sewage on the ground. In addition to water, my diet consisted of grapefruit, pineapple, pastries, meatless pizza, and moldy cheese.
Gambians view Individuals as rich, as a result of the common laborer makes just one greenback (US) per day, works six days per week, and is paid as soon as a month. Although ladies got the precise to vote two years in the past, most will not be allowed to work outdoors their household commune. Subsequently, the poverty stricken ladies and children swarm the vacationers begging feverishly.
Muslims account for 95% of the inhabitants. A Muslim man might marry 4 wives, every having 5 children on common. With twenty-five hungry mouths to feed, most of their cash is spent on rice and beans. Attributable to malnutrition, it is not uncommon to see children with bloated bellies and bony legs and arms.
By law when a girl marries, she is required to transform to her husband’s religion; due to this fact, Muslim males will purposely search out Christian ladies. Moreover, Muslim faculties supply free training verses public faculties with costly charges. This creates a spiritual stronghold on the children from youth.
One other technique of final management is thru the Witch Physician’s voodoo. Wives are threatened with a dying hex if they’re disobedient or depart their husbands. In actuality, it isn’t the hex that can trigger their demise; it’s malnutrition, illness, the shortage of training and no earnings.
Although the Gambian ladies stay in a male dominated society, their spirits seek for fact and dignity. Throughout Christian church providers, the Muslim ladies typically spy over the again partitions outdoors whereas listening to the sermon on the loud speakers. They’re camouflaged in a number of layers of material to hide their identification.
I used to be honored to be a visitor on the presidential dinner celebrations and excited to mingle with different world leaders, however my spotlight was inspiring the Banjul college students to stay fulfilling lives and to maintain hope. The younger girls had been so appreciative; they gave me a set of scarves.
African life is troublesome! Their on a regular basis challenges are to search out the fundamentals – meals, clothing and shelter. The important thing to empowerment is to change into much less as a way to change into extra. Empowerment comes within the least anticipated second, inflicting one to courageously rise above the circumstances that encompass them.
I’ll all the time bear in mind the kinder spirits of the Gambian individuals; they’re essentially the most gracious I’ve ever recognized. I’m not positive if I’d willingly volunteer for one more tour of responsibility in Africa; but when requested, I most likely would go once more.
