AHEAD/PAS Youth Camp In The Gambia

By Ahead Staff

March 5, 2005


Youth Construct Cookit
The Gambian Program conducted by AHEAD and the International Awards Scheme of The Gambia had another stellar session. For the first time we held our camp on the North Bank of the River Gambia, an underdeveloped and challenging area. Fifteen students, one PAS field officer and two AHEAD volunteers spent two weeks in the village of Kerewan, the District headquarters. Life in the village was not what we had experienced else where in The Gambia. To obtain fire wood was nearly impossible, obtain fresh fish was impossible, and obtain poultry required an act of divine intervention, well almost. But like most events, activities and experiences associated with AHEAD, adversity turned into a valuable learning experience which turned out to be enjoyable. The group learned to work cooperatively, share assets and make do with whatever was at hand.

The AHEAD/PAS group worked with the Gambian Awards Scheme as well as groups from Scotland, Senegal and Guinea Bissau in tackling a project to benefit a Gambian group seeking to establish a satellite office in the North Bank. Jointly the groups made cement blocks as a start toward constructing a building to serve as headquarters and skill center. The Awards Scheme's presence will add to the facilities available.

Youth on the North Bank have few choices for an education. We were able to accommodate four middle school students from Kerewan in our program. This will afford the village a nucleus of students to help spread the message of AHEAD/PAS and showcase our accomplishments.


Cooking Rice In Cookit
The town has offices of several government agencies whose personnel we were able to utilize in our workshops-Departments of Agriculture and Health. One of the workshops we conducted was on solar cooking. Our group constructed Solar cookers (“Cookits ") and attempted to cook using the energy from the sun. The rice was mediocre, the veggies good. We have yet to cook a full meal using the device. The faut is that we try to cook during the rainy season and the rain Gods enjoy dumping on us when we use the "Cookit".

One of the high lights of our experience was the drama presentation dealing with drug abuse and teenage pregnancy. We felt as if we had delivered our message when the young children asked that we repeat the presentation. Again the AHEAD/ PAS camping experience turned out to be educational, helpful and enjoyable. It was a good ending to ten years of the AHEAD experience in The Gambia.


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