At the end of 2013, the Company agreed to sponsor a child in The Gambia.
We started to sponsor a little boy from the Jola tribe, named Saidou. He was 6 years old when we started sponsoring him. He lives near Serekunda. He is an only child, and in his culture, it is important to have brothers, so his family were very excited at the thought of a BB Company as sponsors, because now he will have many brothers!
We started to sponsor a little boy from the Jola tribe, named Saidou. He was 6 years old when we started sponsoring him. He lives near Serekunda. He is an only child, and in his culture, it is important to have brothers, so his family were very excited at the thought of a BB Company as sponsors, because now he will have many brothers!
2014: Saidou and his mum in their best clothes.
Families hoping for a sponsor dress up for their photo in the hope someone will pick them.
Families hoping for a sponsor dress up for their photo in the hope someone will pick them.
In January 2014, Saidou went to visit his school for the very first time. He was quite scared at first, but started along with three other children who were sponsored at the same time. He was measured for a uniform – one of the few clothes he will ever have had new – and got it a few weeks later.
Visiting school
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meeting the headmaster
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Back at the charity HQ afterwards,
smiling so we know he is happy, if a little nervous! |
Each year, we are asked to pay his school fees (£100) and consider putting together a box of gift and other items to send to Saidou and his family.
In September 2015, we sent our first shipment to The Gambia. In the box for Saidou were clothes and flipflops (summer wear, because it is above 300 C all year!), bouncy balls, Lego sets, shower gel, pens, paper and stickers, sweets and some small games.
We also sent a box for the parents with items for the family – a first aid kit (calpol, plasters, rubbing alcohol, cotton wool, vitamins, savlon, etc.), kitchen kits (bowls, plates, spoons, cups, tin opener, wooden spoons etc.), deodorants, scissors, adult painkillers, clothesline and pegs, etc.
A third box contained food items - pasta, sardines, raisins, biscuits, hot choc, tea, coffee, sugar, etc.
Many of the items sent would probably be considered basic and cheap to buy for us but are considered luxury items or very difficult to obtain in Serekunda and the surrounding area.
In September 2016, the Company took part in a sponsored ‘jump’ at a local trampoline park and raised over £500.
We used some of the money to pay Saidou’s school fees, a sack of rice (£30) and a life-saving mosquito net (£50). The nets cover the family whilst they sleep. We also paid for a new school uniform and paid shipping for a Christmas box for him and his family.
In the box, we sent more summer clothes, stationary, art materials, sweets and Lego.
We will also use some of the money to send some family bits – spaghetti, canned fish, dried fruit, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, toothpaste and brushes, vitamins, teabags, coffee, sugar, basic medicines etc.
We sent the box in late 2016 but its delivery was delayed due to a civil war in the country. It arrived safely at the beginning of March 2017.
In school, Saidou loves his time at school and has always been in the top 5 of his class, excelling in most subjects.
In September 2015, we sent our first shipment to The Gambia. In the box for Saidou were clothes and flipflops (summer wear, because it is above 300 C all year!), bouncy balls, Lego sets, shower gel, pens, paper and stickers, sweets and some small games.
We also sent a box for the parents with items for the family – a first aid kit (calpol, plasters, rubbing alcohol, cotton wool, vitamins, savlon, etc.), kitchen kits (bowls, plates, spoons, cups, tin opener, wooden spoons etc.), deodorants, scissors, adult painkillers, clothesline and pegs, etc.
A third box contained food items - pasta, sardines, raisins, biscuits, hot choc, tea, coffee, sugar, etc.
Many of the items sent would probably be considered basic and cheap to buy for us but are considered luxury items or very difficult to obtain in Serekunda and the surrounding area.
In September 2016, the Company took part in a sponsored ‘jump’ at a local trampoline park and raised over £500.
We used some of the money to pay Saidou’s school fees, a sack of rice (£30) and a life-saving mosquito net (£50). The nets cover the family whilst they sleep. We also paid for a new school uniform and paid shipping for a Christmas box for him and his family.
In the box, we sent more summer clothes, stationary, art materials, sweets and Lego.
We will also use some of the money to send some family bits – spaghetti, canned fish, dried fruit, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, toothpaste and brushes, vitamins, teabags, coffee, sugar, basic medicines etc.
We sent the box in late 2016 but its delivery was delayed due to a civil war in the country. It arrived safely at the beginning of March 2017.
In school, Saidou loves his time at school and has always been in the top 5 of his class, excelling in most subjects.
Saido
Below is an extract of a school report we received in 2019, when Saidou was around 14:
He is planning to become a pilot and, in a short video sent around Christmas time, he said how grateful he was for the funds as he would not be able to go to school otherwise.
We plan on organising another delivery for the family in the new year and will give more information about suggested donations nearer the time.
- 100% attendance and punctuality
- 3rd in his class of 38 students.
- Average score of 93% for his class subjects
- In particular
- 100% in English
- 95% in maths
- 95% in science
He is planning to become a pilot and, in a short video sent around Christmas time, he said how grateful he was for the funds as he would not be able to go to school otherwise.
We plan on organising another delivery for the family in the new year and will give more information about suggested donations nearer the time.
