Day 3- Visit the Vice President

On day 3 of the trip we had an audience with Her Excellency Isatou Njie-Saidi Vice President of Gambia, so it was an early start once again. We made our way to the state house with our 'Giving 2 Gambia' t-shirts dressing smart for the occasion! After security checks we were escorted to a room in the State House to be welcomed by the Vice President, Youth & Sports Ministers, Gambian Army General, the head of Islamic Affairs (Amir) as well as the national press.

G2G group outside the State House compound.

Her Excellency was very happy to meet our group and commended the purpose of our trip. Sister Khadijah and the G2G group presented her with a small souvenir as a token of appreciation for welcoming us into the presidential chambers and giving us the time to explain our project aims. 

The meeting concluded with the national press interviewing our youth leader and sister Khadijah. This was broadcasted later that same evening on prime time national news, national radio and was on the front pages of the next day’s newspapers.

In the Presidential Chambers

Gambian soldiers after Salah in the State House compound.

Upon leaving the state house, we made  our way to the Gambian Organisation of the Visually Impaired (GOVI) which is a provider of education and skills based learning for the blind. One of the skills taught to the visually impaired students is rug making, 100% of the sales proceeds is paid to the students who weave the rugs to meet their basic needs and prevent them from having to beg.  

GOVI entrance.

Rugs made by the blind people in Gambia are sold to help with their income 

We offered to support GOVI to continue its great work in helping the blind. Having proposed a few potential projects, they informed us of the need to teach Arabic in braille. Since then, we have contacted a blind institution in South Africa that kindly offered to send a consultant to deliver a one week crash course on Arabic braille for teachers at GOVI, we are still in negotiations trying to get this new project off the ground.