News and Activities

 

1.Clean Energy Project Grant

 We have been succesful in obtaining a Clean energy project grant from the Welsh Government’s ‘Wales for Africa programme,’ and the Clean Energy Grant  by the Welsh Government’s Climate Change Division. The grant payable of £13412.55 will be used to fund our “Prosiect Ynni Glân”. That project will provide sufficient solar powered electricity to meet the total needs of the Clinic at Soma. This will improve the health care available for the whole of the Lower River Division in the Gambia, and will undoubtedly lead to lives being saved. We are extremely grateful to the Welsh Assembly Government for this funding.

 

2. On the 9th December 2010, the container donated by Mr Delwyn Williams of Anglesey Services, crammed with medical equipment, Educational materials, Sports Equipment, Agricultural machinery, woodworking tools etc left Amlwch en route to Felixstowe. The container was loaded on a merchant vessel the Safmarine Nakuru which sailed on the 15th December 2010 from Felixstowe    to the Gambian Capital and main port (Banjul). 

The ship  arrived at Banjul on the 6thJanuary 2011 as scheduled. Despite the best efforts of a customs officer, whose family name should have been “Jobsworth”, the container left the port on the 7th January 2011 and was transported to Sankwia, arriving at 0300 hours the next morning.

On the 8th January amidst great excitement items were removed from the container. Medical equipment was delivered to the Soma Clinic the following day and educational materials were given to the headmasters of the 3 schools. The villagers in particular welcomed the delivery of the tractor. The ownership of the tractor was formally transferred to the village at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries including the Governor of the Lower River Region. The governor expressed his gratitude and stated that it would be of great assistance to the development of local agriculture.

The village children greatly appreciated the sports equipment that had been donated and within minutes were involved in a “cricket match” applying rules that would not be recognised by the Marylebone Cricket Club

3. On the 10th December 2010 members of Cyfeillion Sankwia Friends took part in a multi cultural event at the Memorial Hall Amlwch. The event was organised by Amlwch Communities First. As part of our exhibition people attending had the opportunity of tasting some Gambian Food.

4.  A friend of the Charity Jenny Pye and her sister have returned to Wales following their cycling trip to Sankwia on the 17/18th December 2010. Jenny states that they enjoyed the trip, although the cycling was hard going. She states  they were given a great welcome at the village. She described the work that had been done as being excellent, and indicated that they loved Gambia and it’s people.

Whilst at Sankwia they delivedered a new Welsh Flag to be flown at the Skill Centre in the village.