The journey should and will raise many questions. Among other things: "Why is Africa, such a rich continent, not really succeed, why do so many people want to go to Europe, and why don't
have the many billions of our development aid any effect?"
This trip has a small project character. So you'll travel home with many answers and new understanding after this journey. You balance our views with African ones. Because what we often see
as easy and simple is usually difficult or even impossible for the people there. Together we talk about causes, solutions, hurdles and what it would take to change something.
I promise you, it will be exciting!
The following itinerary forms the frame. As many situations in Africa have to be rescheduled every day, an exciting momentum is developing. You, the participants, are the most important people. Ultimately, you decide together with others at which points you will stay longer, what you want still to discove or what you would like to skip.
Day 1
Arrival to Banjul Airport
Airport transfer to the hotel about 30 minutes.
Check-in, personal relaxing time.
Day 2
Arrive, get to know each other, exchange, discover. Introduction to the project idea (goal, framework, process), answers to first questions.
Day 3
Visit of a fish market, historical museum, health centers, women's project.
We visit a family in their compound, chat with them to insight their daily life of surviving. My tip: ask questions and listen, listen, listen.
Day 4
Currently 29,000 Gambians in Libya are waiting for the boat crossing. Learn about the everyday problems and why so many Gambians are pushing to Europe. Visit to a farm project. Talks with representatives from agriculture.
Day 5
First own, exciting experiences and classification of well-meant "development" help.
Visit of an SOS Children's Village. Experience of situations in everyday life (care, transport). They learn what happens to old clothing collections in Germany, how European subsidies undermine the development of Africa, why personal sponsorships are pointless.
Day 6
Evaluation of previous impressions and experiences.
Approaches and possibilities.
Rest of free time.
Day 7
Drive up-country.
Visit two schools. Conversations with teachers, a Mothers Club. What can change education? Review the thoughts you held the day before with reality.
Overnight stay at a lodge on Bintang-Bolong.
Day 8
Mangrove tour and visit of a village. Opportunities to get into contact with women and men of the village community. What are their needs and worries, what their desires and dreams, their odds and opportunities.
Day 9
Return to the hotel. Final round and implementation approaches for possible next steps
Day 10
For all: day at leisure.
For participants of the 10-day trip: In the evening transfer to the airport and return to Europe.
Maybe you would like to know the history of Gambia. Then we invite you to visit the slave island "Kunda Kinteh Island", the origin of the novel "Roots" by Alex Haley.
Just hang on for another four days.
Day 11
Dive into the original Gambia.
From Banjul by ferry to the North Bank, further inland to the slave island "Kunta Kinte Island" (Unesco World Heritage Site and place of action of the novel by Alex Haley Roots). Then at Soma across the river to the south bank.
Overnight stay at Bintang-Bolong.
Day 12
Return to the hotel.
Afternoon drive to Paradise Beach. There you will get to know the local way of fishing.
Day 13
Visit the holy place Kachikalli and the Botanical Garden.
End with sunset in Calypso.
Day 14
At leisure.
Prepare checkout.
Transfer to the airport.
Return flight to Europe
Hartmann GmbH – Ferdinand-Lassalle-Str. 16 – D-04109 Leipzig
The charity organization "Social Projects for The Gambia e.V." of which I am a member, is committed to education and health of children and adolescents in Gambia (West Africa).
Further information can be found on: www.social-gambia.com