Preparation under way..............

If, like us, you know little about The Gambia it is situated on West Africa's Atlantic coast. The country consists of a thin ribbon of land, at no point wider than 50km (30 miles), running east-west on both banks of the River Gambia. The Gambia is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on all other sides by Senegal.  
It's tiny - about the size of Yorkshire.  It is one of the poorest African countries and one of the most corrupt.  Female circumcision and polygamy are common and it's hot, hot, hot all year.


I am beginning to wonder why Pete and I thought it would be a good idea to offer our time to VSO.  They must have thought we had skills to offer as we both have placements which we think is going to be supporting/helping/ training the teacher trainers.  We make the exact negotiations when we get there - all in good (African) time.  We will be based in Janjanbureh otherwise known as Georgetown.

So far we have had some fantastic training in Birmingham, our arms are like pin cushions from the numerous vaccinations and we've looked at google earth and you tube trying to imagine what it will all be like.


My career break has now started and during the next few weeks I shall be organising, dealing with the likes of BT, beginning to pack, fitting in a few coffees with friends and finding out what a blog is!


Look forward to seeing you on the 16th.

Fundraising Update

Just to say that anyone kind enough can help our fundraising by visiting WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/WALFORDS which is our charity page,  any monies we raise are not directly for us but go into the general VSO funds to help train future volunteers. Please take the time to visit their websitre too at WWW.VSO.ORG.UK to find out about their work in the world's poorest countries.

NEWSFLASH!!!   Please come to our open house day on the 16th January 2010 to say goodbye - all refreshments provided, open from 10AM till whenever.

Liz and Pete are off to the Gambia in February to do some teaching for a year - follow the ups and downs here - we hope to update weekly. Also don't forget to come to our open day on the 16th January 2010 to say goodbye.