GAMBIA EXPEDITION REPORT April 2004 In September 2003, we launched our expedition and invited the older Scouts and Explorers to attend. A team of 4 leaders, 6 explorers and 5 scouts was put together. Through scouting and SOS contacts and a lot of Internet research, we put a week's programme together. A fundraising target of £12,000 was set, and we planned a series of events to raise the money. Our events included car washing at Huntercombe YOI, a Burns Supper at The Crooked Billet, and a wine tasting at the Pavilion. A number of organisations also contributed, such as the District and County Scout Councils, The Rotary Club and The Henley Expedition Trust. We also had a number of substantial individual donations and gifts of pens, paper, books and toys. Our team building included fact finding expeditions about The Gambia, expert speakers and a weekend in the Brecon Beacons.

The Preparation

Travel to Kaira Konko Scout Lodge

On Good Friday the team were up at the crack of dawn to drive to Gatwick for the Thomas Cook fight, laden with rucsacs of personal equipment and gifts for the children in The Gambia which the airline let us take free of charge. After a 6 hour flight, the team was met by the KK (Kaira Konko) scout leader Lamin Kinteh and two scouts, Samba and Abdoulie. An hour's drive took us to Tumani Tenda, an eco-village, where the team spent the next 2 nights in mud huts. There we took a trip in dug-out canoes in the mangroves looking at the oysters, and a walk in the forest exploring the medicinal properties of local plants. We also learnt local batik techniques and after an introduction to the village chief, explored the village. Of particular interest was the enormous community kitchen garden where they grow tomatoes, cassava, cabbages, okra, onions and mangoes. The following night was spent at Tendaba Bush Camp where the team relaxed by the pool and explored the birdlife by boat.

Kaira Konko Scout Lodge

An hour's drive up-river in the scout bus and pick-ups took us to Soma, where we were met by a huge crowd of scouts blocking the road. We jumped out of the vehicles and paraded up to KK with drums beating and children singing! We headed to the market to buy some meat and vegetables for the girl scouts to cook for us, then came back to the centre to plant some papaya trees in the kitchen garden. The next day we visited Fonkoi Kunda primary school, where we had another fantastic welcome by the school children. More singing and dancing! Four members of the team were then invited to be introduced to the four villages feeding the school. The local people, of the Fula tribe, were so grateful for our help - we brought 60 mango trees, 10 orange trees and boxes of paper, pens, books and toys for the kindergarten. We also brought a football which started off a very competitive game! On our last day in Soma we helped with the construction of a house for a disabled youth who until that time had to crawl outside to the toilet - which was particularly nasty in the wet season. The day finished with a great scout camp fire.

Our Departure

Our last day included a visit to the British High Commission to find out about how our country is helping The Gambia, and a visit to the SOS Children's Village to meet the children and see the school facilities. The village was a very happy place, but the school library will certainly benefit from the £3,000 worth of books we are going to donate! After our final lunch and visit to the craft market we flew home and heads hit pillows at about 3am on Saturday 17 April when parents had to put an end to the second by second account of the trip until the morning!

What Next?