Are you interested in volunteering in The Gambia? - We offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to work at our projects and experience life in a vibrant Gambian community.
Don't just take our word for it - read the volunteer's diaries below
For details of how you can volunteer please contact Rebecca Daffeh at E-mail: Rebecca_fsf@hotmail.co.uk or phone Telephone: 07859 927472 or 01905 20058.
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Dr Rita O'Regan March-April 2010
All in all I had a wonderful experience & feel I was very well looked after. I felt safe & was overwhelmed with the friendliness of the people I met. It was a very nice arrangement to have lunch in Baba's house everyday. I would certainly recommend volunteering for FSF. Thank you for the very personal touches by calling me regularly etc. The actual work in the clinics was interesting. I was given a brief orientation by nurse Jawara and all the staff were welcoming. I feel I built up a good working relationship with the nurses & became friends with those I came into regular contact with. |
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Christine and Peter - April 2010
We spent a very interesting, challenging time at the Lower Basic School in Kwinella. We were overwhelmed by the welcome we were given - everyone was so friendly & helpful. When we arrived, several classes were without teachers, as they were attending a local conference. Chris helped by teaching a variety of lessons (at very short notice!), from English & Maths to History & Integrated Studies. We made a good start on colour-coding & sorting most sections of the library, so that the staff & children can find, & return, books more easily. In the second week, we were asked to observe & report on staff teaching methods, & help to improve them by suggesting alternative, more interactive ideas. All this was done in heat (40C+!) which was deemed excessive, even by the locals! |
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Roisin January 2010 I was asked to do a write up on my experience of my recent trip to Gambia, yet I am struggling to put into words how moving and unbelievably amazing it was. I was working at Kwinella Lower Basic School, with 14 other volunteers, all with the same attitude and mindset that we were here to help and make a difference to the community. More .... |
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Abbee - January 2010
The work FSF are doing is so valuable to the Kwinella community. They tackle each task with determination hard work and love. I have had the most positive and life changing experience with FSF and the people of the Kwinella Village. The results of the hard work we put in is visible on the faces of everyone from the children to the head master and mothers club. Watching the school children colouring in in the newly painted vibrant library with so many books was truly inspiring. We were looked after so well. From start to finish a truly amazing experience. Thank you FSF this will stay in my memories always. |
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Lucy - January 2010
The People of Kwinella are so kind and generous. They have such a deep respect and love for the simple things, never taking anything for granted. It was a real pleasure to spend ten days with them and the whole Lush/Fresh start team too of course, I had such a wonderful time! |
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Liam - January 2010
In the gardens I planted mangos, oranges and banana trees. I was amazed that people grew food. I know it sounds obvious, but when I think of the actuality of it, people actually grow food. Now I know how to plant a banana tree as a result - 30cm wide and 20cm deep with a wall of soil around it to keep the water in. A truly humbling experience. The Gambians are the happiest people I know! |
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Rose - January 2010
I was surrounded by such happy, open, generous people and couldn't stop smiling but it was when some of the older women in the village came and spoke to me on their way to the rice fields to say thank you that I knew that we had given something of real value to the entire community. more... |
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Sophie - January 2010
The trip far exceeded all my hopes and expectations. I wouldn't change a single second of it. The work was hard but rewarding and the people - from the Fresh Start Foundation team, school staff, children and the wider community - were warm, welcoming and a real inspiration. I wasn't expecting to gain so much personally from this experience, but I came back with a whole new perspective on life and a determination to find a way to create a little of the community spirit and happiness of the people of Kwinella back here in the UK. Click here to read a newspaper article about the trip. |
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Laura - January 2010
It is impossible to even think of words to stress how incredible my time spent with FSF in the Gambia was. I spent the most amazing ten days of my life there with the most fantastic people - the inspiring FSF representatives, my fellow volunteers and the warm, loving people of the community of Kwinella more... |
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Gav - January 2010
An absolutely phenomenal experience! I never thought going on a volunteer trip to a developing African country would be so rewarding, so well run and so much fun.We worked hard and played hard and I have been lucky enough to build memories that will last for a lifetime. Thank you Fresh Start Foundation - Lamin you are all kinds of amazing! |
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Sammy - January 2009
Exciting, nervous, expensive, language, culture shock . . . are just some of my thoughts when I first thought of going to Gambia with Fresh Start Foundation. more .... |
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John - January 2009
We worked with the children, playing parachute games, rugby,made musical instruments, told stories, participated in impromptu dancing to rhythms drummed out on 25 litre plastic drums with wooden sticks, flew kites & boomerangs, talked about the history of flight, made paper aeroplanes, built a clay oven, made bread & last monday evening set fire to the oven & cooked, to the sound of more drumming and dancing. more ...... |
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Clair January 2009
The trip was fantastic the most breath taking experience ever. I have been so inspired by all the people that I met there and haven't stopped talking about everything since I got back. more ..... |
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Greg - April 2008
In April I spent six weeks in The Gambia, most of it at a rural nurse-led health clinic in the village of Kwinella just south of the River Gambia. more... |
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Ashleigh and Max March 2008
After a long flight to Gambia we arrived at Banjul to oppressive heat and clambered onto a crowded, sweaty bus which took us to the small airport where we had to queue to get through the passport check. However stressful this might have been in England, it was all forgotten in the Gambian spirit... we've never seen so many people smiling in all my life more... |
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