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For the fifth year in a row, Shelby Tarutis, Executive Director of GambiaHELP, is traveling to The Gambia to continue the work on several projects, to meet with Gambian officials, representatives of aid organizations and to talk with various Gambian groups and villages throughout the Gambia to determine the needs and requests of the Gambian people. This year, it is expected that Shelby will be in The Gambia for approximately six weeks. She left the United States on February 12, 2004 and will be returning to Seattle at the end of March. For many, the trip to the Gambia seems like a wonderful journey, but as those who have traveled with Shelby are aware, the trip involves days that are full of activities consisting of meetings, traveling, planning, writing, and developing coalitions. Very often, the days begin at 6:00 am and end long after 10:00 pm while notes are taken in the light of a flashlight or candle.

This year, as in the past, two volunteers accompanied Shelby in order to help her. Carolyn Horsfall has visited The Gambia in the past and has special ties with a number of Gambian citizens. Carolyn, or Caro as she is known, is an employee of Starbucks and has been a volunteer with GambiaHELP for several years. In addition to Caro, Alex Hare has also volunteered.

Alex Hare is a 25 year old resident of Canada who recently received his graduate degree in biochemistry and medical genetics at the University of Manitoba. Alex learned about GambiaHELP through its website at www.gambiahelp.org and volunteered to go to the Gambia based upon a strong interest in ecology and biology. In addition to his academic interest, Alex believes, on a personal level, that providing health and educational assistance to underdeveloped countries is an important responsibility of more advantaged nations and of their citizens. This is Alex Hare’s first trip to Africa and he is anxiously looking forward to his work in the Gambia.

Many individuals wonder why such a long period of time is required in The Gambia and why matters cannot be attended to more efficiently or with much less time. Unfortunately, much of West Africa, including The Gambia, is part of the developing world. As a result, there is a lack of infrastructure and communication is often difficult. By way of brief example, the electricity is variable, running water in the capital can be disrupted and telephone service can also be sporadic. These issues are magnified when traveling to certain portions of the interior of The Gambia where there is often no electricity, no running water and no telephone service. Given these limitations, the issue of easy communication simply does not exist. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, the culture of West Africa depends heavily upon individuals and the ties of individuals with one another. These ties and relationships are forged over time and are based upon personal contact. An individual’s ability to know and to trust another person often requires years, but once forged these ties are strong and become the building blocks for future development.

Shelby Tarutis has been working with West Africa for an extended period of time, understands and speaks Mandinka, and has friends throughout The Gambia. In each of her trips, she is able to reinforce prior acquaintances, develop new ones, and expand upon this contact base. As a result of these extensive personal contacts, Shelby is able to gain an insight into the needs of the country and determine what is acceptable to those within the country and what can best meet their identified needs. Indeed, it is based upon this approach that GambiaHELP is moving forward on the following projects.

School Libraries: This year, for the fourth year in a row, GambiaHELP is sending a container of books to the Gambia. As previously indicated, a portion of the cost of the container is being provided by a grant from Books for Africa. The books are the result of donations from individuals, schools, libraries, organizations, colleges and institutions. Literally, tens of thousands of books have been donated during the past year, sorted, packed and prepared for shipment by volunteers all of whom have worked on multiple weekends over an extended period of time. Without the continuing support of the individuals donating the books and the volunteers sorting and packing them, this project would never succeed. This year, GambiaHELP is working with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators who have donated books for two libraries located at Sari Sopi and Santanto Lower Basic School. GambiaHELP has been the collection point for the donations of these books and has been responsible for transporting the books to the schools as well as for establishing the libraries.

In addition, as a result of the First Annual Fall Auction, ten individuals purchased “book cases.” These funds will be utilized to build a library at a rural elementary school. One of Shelby’s goals is to select a school, to work with parents who will be responsible for donating labor to build the library, to arrange for the purchase of necessary supplies, and for the delivery of books. As a result of the generosity of the ten auction attendees, a new library at a school that previously had no books whatsoever will be established. The actual name of the library will be decided upon by the auction attendees and the library will be formally dedicated next year.

The book project has been a continuing program of GambiaHELP. It is believed that the establishment of a library in a rural elementary or high school allows the students to begin the learning process, to understand the importance of the written word and to expand their minds.With education, with knowledge and with books, comes hope and plans for the future.

Micro-lending Project: This year, GambiaHELP will continue its work with the women’s group in the village of Dankunku known as the Nema Kafoo. Last year, GambiaHELP was able to donate a rice milling machine to the Nema Kafoo. In the proceeding year, Nema Kafoo has begun milling rice for individuals and villages in the surrounding area. The charge for the rice milling is a portion of the rice that is milled. As a result, the Nema Kafoo is able to store rice which it can then sell and/or distribute in times of need.

This year, Shelby Tarutis will be working with the approximate 100 women that constitute the Nema Kafoo to develop more technical aspects of running a business, understanding business theory and planning new projects that the Nema Kafoo can begin and develop on their own. This is an exciting project which promises to allow women an opportunity to develop their own business and to secure an independent economic base.