Our
work had begun the following morning after arriving. We started with visiting local
schools. All three of us, were shocked to see the equipment and the
situation in primary schools. Children learn in very modest and
difficult situations. They have broken chairs, not enough room and of
course they are present in great number, disorganized and have acces
to very small playgrounds. However, children are very obedient and
love to go to school. They sung a welcome song to us and we are
kindly accepted. In Mobeta Nursery School, children surprised us with
traditional dancing and singing. The most amazing is the fact that
noone didn't even expect us, yet still we were prepared such a
surprise!All of them - teachers, children and the headmistress!
Simply, one of the teachers took a drum and the performance has
begun! Incredible experience!
When
hearing the first song in that small local school sung for us by very
young children, we were soon crying! Their first song on our visit
was I HAVE A DREAM! Looking at the situation in the classroom,
children with obvious social limitations singing such a song, a man
cannot remain cold-hearted! Tears were running fast.I believe such an
experience can soften any, even the most cold-hearted people! We were
also shocked when seeing the kids who are standing in front of the
school. The headmistress explained to us that the parents cannot pay
their school fees, so children cannot attend. How sad it is that they
have no options and that we cannot help them!
We
talked with the local schools about how we could help to find new
solutions for upcoming projects, based on the education of children
who have these limited possibilities in education. For it is
education the key to the development, and the main tool for changing
the current situation of many poor Gambians. We wish for the
children, when they grow up, thinking differently than their parents;
to have their children in later years, to be able to provide all of
their children medical care, carefree childhood, educational
opportunities and full stomachs.
We
soon realized that the local schools in addition to donations are
also in urgent need for volunteers to work as teachers. Theses are
mostly needed for children between the age of 3 to 6 coming from poor
families. Due to the nature of work and activities we would like to
especially invite individuals who have experience working with school
children and pre-school children, children with special needs,
teachers or learners to become this (psychologists, teachers, or
students defectologists and other related disciplines), retired
professors. Of course this is not a requirement!
The
work is carried out during the weekdays in the morning. Learning
English, mathematics, arts, sport and personal hygiene. Even more, it
comprises participation in educational games, singing, dancing and
drawing. In addition, volunteers help in monitoring the school
playground, feeding children during lunch, help with administratives
matters and performing other work with teachers. Occasionally, they
also need help in the construction and maintance work.
It
is important that I stress how local schools are facing problems such
as shortage of teachers and learning facilities, non-payment of
school responsibilities from parents, access to running water,
electricity, lack of play and school equipment.
With
the help of volunteers we can help improve the situation at the local
schools when it comes to educating young people. The aim is to
educate children and thereby increase employment opportunities, to
teach them that the life of children depends primarily on the parents
and to advise them to opt for parenthood in more mature years. With
being there, we also convey a message that there are people who care
in the world.
We
also visited the families, to which we and other sponsors help with
monthly contributions and payment of annual fees. We've spent entire
days with these families. It is impossible to describe their
situation with words. It is much worse than you can imagine. People
are living in very difficult conditions, but they do not complain, as
one might expect. Most families live in small houses without any
electricity and running water. The water source was a considerable
walk away. They slept on the floor because they had no beds. None of
the children dis not have their own rooms. In one room 5 people
slept. They cooked outside, on charcoal. The bathrooms were mainly
outside in the open air or had one wall installed that one has at
least a little privacy. They wash so that they pour the water on
themselves, for there were no showers. And no toillets as we know it.
The use instead like in the old days- a hole in the ground.
If
I said that the children in Gambia on the streets are dying of
hunger, I would lie to you. However, if I claim that a handful of
rice is the only daily meal of the poorest people in the Gambia, it
is a fact!
In
Gambia, people still share the food among themselves. This is the
reason there are no scary or cruel images displayed by the media when
to Gambia. The fact is that The Gambia is not struck by starvation,
but that does not mean that there is no hunger or malnutrition.
Children
from the poorest families go to school without a lunch. That means
this child did not have breakfast nor lunch.. His one and only meal
is a late lunch when the whole family shares a bowl of rice. But how
can a hungry child learn? How can we make sure that the child goes to
school as long as possible to obtain a profession to have the ability
to get a job? Hungry children think only about how to get money for
food. Not to mention child labour is sometimes the only source one
family has.
Nobody
gets their own plate! When the meal is ready they put the bowl in the
yard and all who are present receive the meal. Gambians live in large
communities and are closely related to each other, so the number of
"eaters" is considerable, women, men, children, relatives,
neighbors... It is almost impossible to see only one person eat from
one bowl. This is the reason why starvation in the Gambia is not very
frequent, there are only a few such cases in the countryside and in
the remote villages.
Perhaps
this fact may be misleading for those who want to help only when they
see the terrible pictures from Africa. Hunger and malnutrition are
everyday problem of the poor in Gambia. Bag of rice that feeds the
family for nearly a month costs 35 €. Malnutrition affects the
physical and mental development of children, and if we do not act,
all of our educational efforts will not bring desired results. Hunger
can have lasting consequences for children who were born in this
country, which in addition to all other obstacles faced, is even more
struck by severe climate changes.
At
each family, we got a lunch, because this is how they show their
respect. The dish in which they bring lunch, is always full of rice
with a spicy vegetable sauce. Sometimes fish sauce is added, as Gambia has always been also a fishing country. Locals eat rice with
their hands, we were given a spoon. We all ate from one bowl. Most
often, we ate a tablespoon or two, for we knew we were served even
though many of them might have nothing more to eat that same day. On
the contrary, it is impolite to refuse food, let alone complain about
the thousands of flies around the bowl. It is
entirely understandable that cleanliness cannot be compared with our
standards at home. The conditions for washing dishes are incomparable
with ours.
The
fact is that poor people eat rice every day with a different sauce.
Rice is the basic and most important food of the Gambians. Some of
the other popular Gambian dishes that you can get at every step and
need to be tested are: Benechin, Domoda, Super-buzzard, Mbahal,
chicken Yass, and much more. Ask the locals to help you in choosing
and so you can taste the local delicacies. Do not forget that the
food is very spicy! Despite the fact that you ask for less spicy or
unspicy food, it will be hard to get it, because they eat spicy food
from young age and otherwise do not know other ways of cooking.
Nevertheless,
Gambia expanded its offer in the restaurants in recent years, so they
offer quality food at affordable prices and always gaining an
international reputation with chefs from all around the world. Some
now live and work in Gambia! However, the goal of our trip was
tasting local food and not eating in international restaurants. So
rice and gravy!
Among
locals, the women and children eat separately from men. We
always got lunch first. When we were full, men were next to eat,
sometimes joined by the kids. This was rare, but they did an
exception in our presence. During the meal, there was full of trash
and rice surrounding us. Also, I saw a woman throw away some twigs
from the sauce, some were even spitting them. This was unusual for
me. After eating, the floor was swept with a home made broom which is
made from thin palm branches.
Those
families for whom we get donations were handed over the rice. The
rest of them were sad to watch and leave empty-handed. Our visit was
a big event for them, so they've all been fun and they all have come
to welcome us. When they saw that we bought rice, they each wanted to
be a part of this, but unfortunately we were not able to give rice to
all. How hard is it to be in such a situation!
Ursa Rojnik, Gambia June 2013
info@kidsaretheworld.com
Ni komentarjev:
Objavite komentar