Latest News

Day Care Centre re-opens

Ocotber 13 2020.  We learned during the week that the Day Care Centre will reopen on October 19th in line with the Gambia's guidance for all schools. Wearing of face masks will be required, classes will be no bigger than 25, there will be no playing during the lunch break and every child will have their temperatgure taken each day.

  As yet Genieri has not suffered any casualties from Covid 19 thanks in part to the government’s very strict lockdown. Even so the situation in the country as a whole is deteriorating and nearby Senegal has been hit particularly hard. More cases are emerging in the Gambian capital, Banjul, and more alarmingly the virus is spreading inland. The latest move by the government has been to extend the lockdown for a further twenty one days and impose a curfew.

  The lockdown has brought considerable hardship to the village, as support from the government in the form of food has been minimal. This is where we have been able to help, so together with Jimmy Houston’s organisation in Scotland, using funds from the recent crowd funding appeals we have been able to send enough rice to keep the village from starvation.Our most recent rice contribution was for £188 worth in mid-September. A similar request has been made for October.

Big Thank You

  It was committee member Toni McNaugton who took the initiative in launching our crowd-funding appeals and the results were extraordinary. The funds raised matched what we would have achieved in a normal year. Our heartfelt thanks go to Toni and all of you for your generosity.

Changes

  Since our last newsletter we have had the Annual General Meeting of the Link, as a result of which a number of changes have taken place. We were very sorry to say goodbye to Jez Truelove who has been a stalwart worker for the Link almost since its inception and has made a number of visits to the village with Hilary, his wife. Richard Gilpin has become our Treasurer and Celia Zlobec has taken over running the 100 Club, Marian Gilpin, our chair, has assumed responsibility for communications with the village, Hilary Truelove continues as secretary, Graham Newman compiles the Newsletter and continues to administer the website, and Margaret Newman is in charge of memberships. Yate Council is represented on the committee by Margaret Marshall.  As always we are keen to welcome new members to the committee and to join us in the very worthwhile work we do.

Women’s Garden revival

Work is underway to revive the Women’s Gardens after their annual ‘rest’ brought about by the need for the women to take part in the peanut harvest. We would dearly like cultivation to be continuous throughout the year. As it is, limited crops are being grown in people’s compounds. However this year's planting is underway and the fencing has been repaired.

Left: The Garden previously                           Right: Preparations under way for this season

Looking ahead, we will need to spend money on the watering system. Whilst the gardens are currently well-watered by the rains, when the dry season arrives, there will be no water to continue growing vegetables. The borehole and associated pumping system, powered by a set of solar panels, has failed for the second time, and in consultation with Gam-Solar in Banjul, the problem has been identified as an inadequate pump, installed in good faith by another charitable organisation, but now needing replacement. We are working with Jimmy Houston in Scotland, and with the Village Development Committee to find a way of funding the work.

Malaria Support

Continues                                                                                                         

  Alongside the problems brought about by Covid-19, our commitment to battling Malaria continues. In response to a recent request for further supplies of Coartem treatment for adults and children we have sent more supplies, a box of testing kits and Paracetamol at a cost of £208. In this we work with Dr Sillah from the neighbouring village of Kaiaf.

The Daycare Centre Wall

Day Care Centre walls were originally built with no foundations so weakened by the arriving rains and a strong wind, a section fell down. As we were concerned about the security of the Day Care Centre compound we have sent money to repair it. The village has provided the labour and we have provided the materials. 

The tractor, which is owned communally with three other villages, delivered sand, gravel and cement and this time the wall will have proper foundations. Once the work is completed and we have assurance that the school compound is secure, and lockdown is finally lifted, then the playground equipment, constructed by an iron worker in the Capital, can be delivered and installed. Exciting prospect!

  The play equipment which was bought in March was delivered in September and has now been installed.

Just some of the items of play equipment now installed at the

Day Centre Centre

We are optimistic that in 2021 we shall be able to resume our fund-raising which would include the annual ‘Taste of the Gambia’ evening in the early part of the year.

100 Club -Latest winners

January

Philippa Scantlebury    £20

Lottie Newman            £10

Margaret Newman       £5

December 2020

Peter and Sue Hunt      £50

Graham Newman         £25

Louse Tanner                £10

See Genieri on the map:

How You Can Help

- become a member of the Yate-Genieri Link. Membership £19 per person per year. Please contact Margaret Newman at graham.newman.co.uk Tel: 01454 250505

- become a member of the 100 Club whch runs from January 1st each year. Please conatc Celia Zlobec celiazlobec@gmail.com

Contacts

Chair: Marian Gilpin, 2, Wickham Clse, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6NH

07837 588362 marianjgilpin@btconnect.com

Secretary: Hilary Turelove 8, Partridge Close BS37 7RN

01454 311720 hilarytruelove@icloud.com

Treasurer: Richard Gilpin, 2, Wickham Close, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6NH

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