BY: Cathy Faulkner

As I reflect back over my summer experience it is hard to imagine a more worthwhile opportunity. To have seen firsthand the NSGA in action has been incredibly reassuring good things are happening in the world.

We travelled to our postings in Mansakonko and Bansang three days after arrival. A film show the first night showed us the incredible ingenuity of the NSGA staff. The audience gathered to see films in local languages, produced and acted by NSGA staff, exploring issues such as teenage pregnancy, sexual harassment, and STIs. A generator powered the equipment with images projected onto a sheet spread across the NSGA vehicle. Audience participation was energetic and enthusiastic when the film was paused to discuss issues arising from the story. Staff showed their amazing talents as Baba, the media man, and Uncle Sanna, the driver, skillfully guided the discussion and demonstrated their genuine commitment to these issues. These film shows continued in a different community each night until equipment failures and Ramadan brought them temporarily to a halt.

Health lessons began with puberty and continued on to include reproduction, STIs/HIV, and related health issues. Gender classes explored cultural inequities between male and females. Trained staff had an amazing ability to involve the students. English and math lessons added an academic component to the summer school. The biggest challenge for me as a “toubab” was to understand and to make myself understood. I was definitely a learner as well as a teacher!

As the summer school progressed, we realized a lack of physical resources did not hinder the exploration of the issues. Perhaps the most memorable experience for me was witnessing skits, put together on a few moments notice, demonstrating the cultural aspects of female circumsicion, as well as the health risks, and the passionate debates which followed. Believe it or not, we all laughed heartedly, as the skits were always incredibly funny. Over and over we watched dramas about sexual harassment, STIs, pregnancy, HIV, early (forced) marriage, and more. Heated debates also gave airtime to both sides of these issues. In this way the NSGA allows students themselves to come to their own conclusions rather than trying to force changes to deeply entrenched cultural traditions.

For me the whole experience reaffirmed that despite what we see and hear about the situation in Africa, very positive things are happening. Change is taking place, facilitated by dedicated and passionate people such as the NSGA staff. The investment made through education on health and gender issues appears to make progress inevitable. To have had the opportunity to participate in this investment in change has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I urge all to support this work, and if you have the opportunity, to see for yourself.

by: Allison Reeves

Hi everyone!

It will be virtually impossible to describe my last 24 days here. In that short time span, it feels as if I’ve lived a lifetime. And my reality has been turned on its head! I’ve been so happy here in Bansang, a rather small community deep in The Gambia. Our hotel is on the shores of the Gambian River where I swim regularly, despite its often questionable brownish look. Our hotel is family-run and is adjacent to the extended family compound.

The hotel owners are husband and wife, Ibrahima and Bintou. An uncle and aunt, Mamoud and Sainey, and their five children (Ibrahima, Mbinkindy, Pabi, Backaray and Dodo), a few stray cousins (Lamin, Lamin, Seikou and Sana) and a grandmother (Dodo) also live in the compound. Ibrahima and Bintou spent 35 years living in Paris. I’ve become very close to Bintou, and have daily been speaking French with her. She has become my cultural translator, which has made my experience so much richer. The family speaks Mandinka, the tribal language of Bansang and area, and I’ve been picking up bits and pieces here and there.

It’s been such a pleasure living with the family. Every day after work I’m greeted by a soccer team’s worth of kids at the house, who all want to jump on me, shake hands, play, and teach me Mandinka words, and practise English. I’ve also joined in family meals eating out of a communal bowl; I’ve pounded millet; learned to clean fish; washed my laundry by hand in the river; taken my turn carrying their infant girl Dodo on my back; and other practices of daily living. Everything is family-centered and the concept of being alone is virtually non-existent.

Most families here are Muslim and I’ve seen such a beautiful representation of this faith among the people. They are so peaceful, loving and kind and they love their faith and are very gentle in their practice of it.

Work is also going well. I’m teaching sexual health to youth aged 13-18ish in a summer school program through the NSGA, an NGO funded in part by CIDA (Canadian  International Developmental Agency). Each school in The Gambia has a team of Peer Health Educators of which five from each of the 25 school in this area were selected. There are five classes of students who rotate through my room, which is an open-concept classroom with bars over windows rather than panes, no lights, and definitely no air conditioning!

Topics include reproductive anatomy and function, fertilization and reproduction, STIs, HIV/AIDS, UTIs, infertility, abortion, menstruation, gender, equality, decision-making, healthy relationships, and female circumcision among others. Female circumcision and polygamy topics have been a bit daunting and I’ve asked a Gambian instructor to join the class for these discussions. Slowly the practice is being phased out – more quickly among some tribes than others.

Overall, teaching is fun. The students are, for the most part, eager to learn and are literally a million times better behaved than Canadian students. I’ve learned so much about teaching, learning and cross-cultural relations.

At our school site, we work only with male teachers and male NSGA staff. It has been so remarkable to work with these amazing men, who are fighting against gender inequalities, female circumcision, polygamous families, and violence against women. It’s yet another reminder that one need not have group membership to care about injustices facing that those people.

This week, my Gambian co-teacher, Mamadi, shared personal stories with students about his marriage: that he had a love marriage (rather than arranged), that he adores his wife, that they never fight, that he helps her cook and clean, and that he sings and dances for her to make her happy. It’s so touching to see smiles brighten the students’ faces and giggles among the girls upon hearing his disclosure of love (a very rare thing!). Many of these behaviours between husbands and wives are alien in this culture; yet another reason why the work of this organization is so important.

Gambian culture has many very special features. The Gambia is known as the “Smiling Coast of Africa”, a statement that is absolutely true. I have never met such friendly, happy people. Everyone on the street wants to say hello, ask our names, welcome us, offer us food and drinks, etc. All the children follow us yelling, Toubab! Toubab! And when they catch up, they stand and stare with sheepish smiles on their faces. The most courageous of the bunch extends a tiny hand and then giggles with glee after we shake it. Our students also want to touch our Toubab skin, play with our Toubab hair, and our Toubab clothes.

Gambians say it is better to be poor in The Gambia than in the West, due to the phenomenon of “social immunity.” Even a poor man is guaranteed three meals a day because people here can literally knock on any door in town and be welcomed in for a meal. The community cares for itself and few are left on the margins.

Another cultural tradition holds that the children of extended family members can be raised by any family member who is able to support them. For instance, access to education might be improved by moving in with an aunt, as is the case in our compound. The children visit their birth parents on holidays or weekends, but ultimately enjoy a more positive life living and working at the hotel for the summer and attending school in Bansang during the school year.

It has been such a blessing to be living closer to the earth, using my hands to make things, living within a cycle wherein virtually no waste is created, playing outside and making our own fun. I’ve enjoyed discussing important issues affecting Gambians with my co-workers, who are deep into the fight against HIV/AIDS; gender discrimination, including mainstream domestic violence; forced child marriage among girls aged 12 to 15 to name a few.

As I write an amazing shift is manifesting itself in the country and I’m in an incredible position to bear witness to this change. Among our students I can already see many bright lights switching on as these strong, intelligent, mature and sensitive girls and boys grow through programs like this summer school and bring about a new Gambia.

An NSGA community film night in Bansang

Donor: UNICEF, The Gambia

Time Period: January 2010-December, 2011

Based on NSGA’s success in the field of education and community interventions over the years, UNICEF, through its Child Policy and Advocacy Project of the Country Program, supported our child protection programs in schools and communities.

The project’s goal was to increase awareness and advocate for the protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation.

Our intervention focused on three key messages  namely: forced/early marriage,
teenage pregnancy and child sexual abuse. The activities under this project
involved  training Peer Health Educator’s from 18 schools in the two regions; production of information materials in the form of posters and flyers, and conducting 60 community cinema shows using educational films on the topics developed and produced by NSGA. All activities for this project have been successfully implemented and reported.

During the project, 377 PHEs and 36 Teacher Coordinators were trained on child sexual abuse, with special focus on the profile of an abuser; identifying the different types of abuse; learned about ways to report cases of abuse; and means of preventing abuse.These PHEs have gone on to reach 9,014 students through drama, one-on-one presentations and classroom sessions. Through the community cinema shows, our team has conducted shows in 68 communities reaching a total of 31,081 people.

In The Gambian culture, men, women and children do not discuss sensitive cultural practices such as early marriage and matters of teenage pregnancy. Through the interactive community cinema shows, we are able to break these barriers and create atmospheres where all these parties can discuss and agree on issues that protect the best interest of women and children.

Time Period: January 2010-December 2012

A new Global Fund for HIV project was approved for the The Gambia in December 2009. It is a five-year project with two phases of two and three years respectively. In Phase 1 (January 2010 to December 2012), NSGA was tasked to train 4,671 young people, including out- of-school youth, on life skills based education. Part of the project also involved reaching an additional 63,141 Gambians (aged 15-49) using participatory methods such as radio, community video shows, drama presentations, and other outreach activities.

The NSGA has already trained 23,746 young people from schools and out-of-school youth groups. This represents five times more than the initial project target. A total of 8,228 Gambians have been reached using participatory approaches. These included radio talk shows, drama presentations by Peer Health Educators and outreach programs. Most activities will now focus on intensifying the reach among Gambians on HIV prevention, education, and importance of voluntary confidential counseling and testing using the above listed methods.

NSGA Driver "Uncle Sanna" drives our Trainers across the country to deliver life-saving education

This project is intended to:

• Increase knowledge on water borne diseases.
• Educate about healthy water habits to prevent the spread of water borne disease.
• Raise awareness of water scarcity.
• Promote safe ways of conserving water.

The first school we visit, Koidu Secondary School, doesn’t bode well either, at least not at first sight. Razor wire and murals painted on the walls by UN peacekeepers that made this school their military base during the war are stark reminders of the horrors of the recent past. But inside that school, we learn there is something far more precious and beautiful in Koidu than diamonds – the enthusiastic students who greet us. They are filled with energy, curiosity and a raging thirst for education. NSGA’s hard-working and committed Sierra Leonean staff have been training a Peer Health Education team here and they’ve mastered a whole repertoire of skits with health messages. After a hearty welcome, the team insists on putting on an impromptu skit outside in the hot sun.

The entire school gathers around the “stage”, a concrete slab, to watch the drama unfold. A conceited and wealthy Chief, recently widowed, is demanding that a young female student marry him. She refuses, insisting he take an HIV test. The Chief thinks his positive HIV test confirms that everything about him is positive, superior. Laughter erupts, but the serious health message of the skit is not lost on the audience, as the young woman explains to him what HIV is, how it can be prevented and treated, but not cured.

I wipe at my face, thinking at first it’s just sweat trickling down my face. But no, these young people have moved me to tears – happy ones. Reminded me, yet again, of the incredible resilience to be found in Africa, and the overwhelming desire you find among people even in war-ravaged countries to improve education, lives and whole countries, never mind the odds. These youth are the country’s real gems