Join Hands Youth Association was formed by myselfwith the help of friends and family members at large. I was solely responsible for the wholelot, not until this year that we had a committee up and running the association. It is a youth group linked to the main association “Join Hands Uk” which was formed by seven females 2001 and has since gone up to a membership of 12people including two men. I am also their treasurer and project Director.
What Is The Cause Of Your Charity?
One of our main aims are supporting youths and families with difficulties, commitment to community projects in the Gambia, in order to help alleviate poverty in the country. Our services range from support and advices to the youths of today as well as help in their educational and financial needs. Over here wehave a home work help session with children living in Newham who are aware of our services and a dance and drama group called “Hummbal”. We are currently using Flanders communitycentre for our activities. Back in The Gambia, we haveteamed up with local scout group in Tawto who are very helpful in coordinating our activities and entertaining our guests from
UK at Random.
How Old Is Join Hands?
Join Hands Youth Association UK is seven years old and the youth group was a year old in June. Our Chief Patroness is Her Excellency TheVice President of The Gambia Mrs Isatou Njie Saidy.
The youth group welcomes all Senegambian school children in all various places in the country in the UK as well as The Gambia to join our membership in order to get to know each other and advices on various studies and career opportunities. Once our website is set and running, we will welcome pictures with school uniforms and comparisons for progress. We will also monitor them on how to carry on school activities and school exchange programmes in order to raise funds towards our projects on
which they could travel to and fro the Gambia for accomplishment.
We welcome people and children from all walks of life and youths to register and be part of Join Hands Youths to strengthen our nation building activities. We also strongly encourage parents to ask their children to join, as this is and will continue to be purely family association were children are able to demonstrate their hidden and well known skills through our design monthly activities. We will also be teaching children how to make head ties and simple accessories for our cultural attires for a very little price.
How Many Projects Have You Accomplished?
We are currently engaged in the process of building a RESOURCE CENTRE in TAWTO, The Gambia. The project has just kick started this year in February 2008 despite the fact that the land has been there two years earlier. We have successfully accomplished three quarters fencing of the acquired land which is massive, thanks to the Genuine Contribution of “Northfleet Youth Group” from Kent .They were with me in Gambia , February when I Launched the Project. We are currently running a garden centre on part of the land as well as continuing with the construction of the first ever Nursery school. Provided there is enough funding we will be looking into building a primary school, library, and a village hall for the community. The whole project has been divided into five phases, is aim at completion by 2012.
What Would You Say Is
Join Hands Biggest Achievement So Far?
The biggest achievement was being able to secure the piece of land without any cost at all. We are very thankful to the Government of the Gambia, especially Her Excellency The Vice President, the people behinds the scenes, village Alkalo and all the community involve who made it easy for me.
We have successfully shipped used clothes, bags, shoes, toys and other accessories to the village without any distortion; we also thanked all those who have donated the items generously.
Raising Funds For Charities Can Be Daunting Task, How Do You Go About It?
For the past few years, we’ve been raising funds through members monthly Contributions, annual Easter Dances,,Trips, to Brighton, during the summer holidays and Sponsorship through friends of the Association.
It is indeed, we are one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in the UK but do not support each other as our fellow ethnic groups does and its high time we learn our lessons and stand by each other.
How Successful Was Your Most Recent Fundraising Event In Hackney?
It was good and went exactly as plan even though time did not allow us to finish our youth drama, but kept it for near future. The children performed their dance routines very well and we were very pleased. We also welcome the attendance of our Deputy High commissioner Mr Yousufa Bojang and fellow guest. We made enough money on our raffle tickets and the Air ticket to New York was won by one of the youths call Kumba. Lots of youths attends and looking forward to nextyear when we will be better known,
as a lot parents said there were unaware that the programme was centred for youths and children in the Diaspora.
How Would Rate The Support You Get From The Gambian Community In The UK
Very minimal as compared to non charitable events when Senegalese Pops are Here and we had to pay or £30’s and wait for 4hrs and no food or drinks. We were only asking for £15 for adults and children £5 and free food and drinks all night, good publicity, all for the development of our motherland.
Anyway I was very pleased with the children turn-out especially the youths to Watch their friends perform and our membership has gone up since.
You Are Building A Nursery School In A Remote Village In The Gambia,
How Far Has Your Project Gone?
Our project is based in the Region of Kombo North, in a village near Kombo Coastal Road behind Old Yundum Called TAWTO. The village has always been there but lacks the facilities that most have eg. no tap water, no schools, no nursery or health centre. I laid the foundation stone 3years ago but was waiting for correct documentation and legalities, which has cause some time lapses. But we are now in tact and the nursery is under construction.
Are You Still Raising Funds For The Project?
We are, and will continue to search and appeal for funding to successfully complete our projects. Therefore we are appealing for all well wishers to help. Once we’ve finished the Nursery, we will start “sponsor a classroom programme” for the primary school. Sponsors will be given the opportunity to named the class after them and get to know its progress record on the whole. Below are the list of projects we are dealing with and on course.
Project Details
Duration
Sponsors
Cost (£000)
Phase 1:Tawuto Tesito Gardens Project.
15 Feb 08
to
15 Feb 09
Join hands
1500.00
Wall Fencing Of the Acquired Land in Tawuto(101*130metres)
15 Feb 08
-
15 Aug 09
Partly funded already by Kent Youth Group/Need Funds
5000.00
Nursery/Primary School Construction( two tier storey building with 8 classrooms dinning hall and offices)
Health Centre
15 May 08
-
15 May 10
Partly Join Hands / Need Funds, sponsors
105,000.00
Public Library/ Hall
15 Aug 10
-
15 Aug 12
None yet, Looking for sponsors, equipments ,used and new books , computers, etc.
9000.00
Grand Total of all Projects
£120,500.00
Have You Had Any Government Support?
We have a registered charity status in the Gambia but time hasn’t allowed me yet to venture in what we can and can’t get from them. The piece of land was given to us by the Alkalo through the help of Government and we are very grateful.
Comments
We would like to say special thanks to you and your team (UKG), all our guests and well wishers. We welcome anyone willing to help either cash or kind.
