With so many students' futures riding on the support they receive through GambiaRising's donors, and the new school year about to begin, it was time to go back to The Gambia. As usual, things were complicated, and most of the hope and progress we found came through our donors' generosity.
First, the new government continues to disappoint. There is freedom of speech; political repression is mild. Petty crime is up everywhere but particularly in the city; the battery of our borrowed car was stolen the first night we parked it on the street of Kotu (as we always do). The roadside billboards of Jammeh have been replaced by billboards of President Barrow. He is forming "Barrow Youth Clubs" around the country. The President was elected for five years but when campaigning, Barrow insisted he would step aside after three years; he now says he's changed his mind.
More concerning, the widespread opinion of people I trust is that the competence level of appointed officials has actually declined, as too many government offices are doled out as political patronage, rather than for capability. Seasoned Gambian intelligentsia are surprised and disappointed that they have not even been asked for their advice on the way forward. As one said, "Under Jammeh, corruption was concentrated in one man. Now it is being dispersed."
In the first six months of this year, the government has spent $7.2 million on travel. A Chinese company gave $752,000 to President Barrow’s wife’s foundation while a contract was under negotiation. The government gave 57 pick-up trucks to Parliamentarians, citing an “anonymous donation"; only one member of the ruling coalition refused to accept their truck unless he knew its source.
Meanwhile the Chinese are everywhere. They beat out a French proposal to redevelop the port and will loan the government $177 million; the port will be built by the Chinese, using Chinese equipment, and much Chinese labor. (In Sri Lanka, they did the same thing and when the port failed because of its inappropriate location, the Chinese said “read the fine print, now we own it.”)
We were there for the first week of school, and teachers had just received their first raises in more than ten years, but the raises were so small that many teachers went on strike, while the teachers union went on the radio urging them to go to work. Oh, democracy !!!
On the other hand, people are not resigned. They are determined. One of our students at the University is planning to run for Parliament when he graduates. People are openly talking about the failures of the new government and making plans for the next elections. So this may well be just growing pains. And foreign aid is still pouring in - from the EU, Saudis, even the Japanese. (USAID has still not opened an office, but they are a bit more active.)
As usual, the joy of these trips is the students. They are truly the future of The Gambia. We are hoping to support 100 or more additional students this year, as well as helping some of the brightest continue on past 12th grade. In case we can't find more donors, our Coordinators are making plans to trim their budgets - no shoes for this student, only one uniform for that one. They are determined to help the new children who they are finding who are not in school. And the students' optimism is not flagging; it is greater than ever. Our donors have given them a chance, and they are running with it.
Remember Jamie Jallow? Who, when we agreed she could have a scholarship in June of 2015, insisted on going back to school immediately even though there only a few weeks left in the school year? She was then 18, and had dropped out after 9th grade and she wanted to waste no time. It took Jamie just two years to graduate from Banjulunding Senior Secondary School (as the top Female Commerce Student). Now she wants to give back by being a teacher, and thanks to a generous church group in Missouri, she just started classes at Gambia College.
One of the controversial decisions of the Barrow government has been to eliminate government scholarships for Gambia College, which was formerly free if you signed a contract to teach for the government for five years. (Too many were not fulfilling the contract, they claim.) Since education is the key to the country's future, we are now making an effort to support more of our brightest 12th-grade graduates to become teachers by funding their studies for the 3-year program at the College. Jamie is one of them. Over the next few months, we will introduce you to more.
We know that our biggest challenge will continue to be keeping up with all the requests we receive to help kids who have dropped out (or are likely to), without help. The foundation of our program is an ever-broadening base of supporters who we can count on year after year. Much of this is now coming from small monthly donations; these really add up. If you think that $5 per month can't make a difference, just ask these kids - that's what it will cost for each of them to go to school this year:
It is my privilege to be the person who meets some of these young people each year, and sees in their eyes not only the hope of a better future, but the knowledge that someone will help them get there. That someone is you.
Once we start to support a student, we stay with them until they complete 12th grade. That is only possible if you do so too. Our team will work overtime to make sure that whatever you can give, will do the most good it can do. They meet with every student, every year, and evaluate their needs. I don't know how they deal with the ones on their waiting lists who they can't help until we find more funds. They're tougher than I am.
Let's make their jobs easier, and expand the number of students we can help this year. If you've already donated this year, or donate monthly, thank you so much. Please consider sharing this letter with a friend, or copy this link to post a copy of this letter online:
Everyone who has lived in The Gambia has known children who deserved a chance to go to school but did not get it. Most of these were girls.
This is our chance to do something about that.
Together, we can.
Thanks for being part of GambiaRising.
[You can see some photos of our trip here.]
Mike McConnell
Managing Trustee, GambiaRising
www.gambiarising.org
www.facebook.com/gambiarising
1500 Park Ave., Apt PH503
Emeryville, CA 94608-3578