 |
||
| The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is the smallest country on mainland Africa and is bordered on the north, east and south by Senegal. Gambia is known for its variety of colorful birds, monkeys and peanut farming; and as being the birth place of Kunta Kinte, the character described in Alex Haley’s famous book, Roots. Penyem is a small, rural village in the southwestern part of the country. In 2007 it was estimated by the United Nations (UN) that people in the Gambia earn less then $800 per person annually. The residents of Penyem Village live under the UN definition of “extreme poverty” – on less than $1 per day. Despite the sometimes rough conditions, Penyem is a simple, relatively clean, and happy place; and if you are like the others who have visited, these slight discomforts will not come close to overshadowing the beauty of the village and the happiness of the people who live there! Join us and Friends of Penyem as we travel to one of the most remote parts of the world for an adventure featuring a 10k run through Penyem, the rebuilding of a garden fence, the repair of an irrigation system, and most of all experiencing life as a true West African Villager.
Arrive in The Gambia via Yundum Airport, a relatively modern facility in the capital, Banjul. Be sure to notice the extra long runway as Yundum is a NASA emergency shuttle landing site! It is a short 15 minute ride to our accommodations for the first two nights - Hibiscus House. We will relax; take a short evening run; meet our Gambian Host, Andrew, as well as fellow travelers; and discuss the itinerary over dinner and drinks in Hibiscus House’s cozy candlelit courtyard. Day 2 Enjoy a relaxing breakfast to the sounds of morning at the Hibiscus House. Today, we’ll take a short drive to Abuko Nature Reserve in Lamin, where we’ll trek through Gambian bush to see crocodiles and exotic birds in the Reserve’s large wetlands. An hour long hike will take us past families of monkeys swinging in the branches overhead. We’ll return to the hotel for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, we’ll head out to Brufut Beach for a run along the coastline, followed by sightseeing. Enjoy dinner back at the hotel complete with a discussion on the background of The Gambia and a Q&A with our local host about Penyem Village and life in The Gambia. Day 3 Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before boarding a bus that will take us to Penyem Village - a roughly one hour trip going slowly over bumpy unpaved roads. On the way, we’ll travel through urban areas in Serrekunda, the largest city in The Gambia, where you can get a taste of life in the ‘big city.’ A welcoming committee will bring us into the village, where we will be greeted by the entire community gathered under the mango tree in the village center. Chief Kolley will welcome us, translating to Jola, a local tribal language, for those that do not speak English. The elders will then offer traditional prayers for our well-being and happiness. After getting settled into our temporary home, we'll take a run through the bush, where we will be under the watchful eye of monkeys and a variety of birds. Upon our return we will shower under a starlit sky before enjoying a meal prepared by local women. Day 4 Wake up to the sound of roosters crowing and children playing on their way to school. After a breakfast of coffee and locally-baked bread, we will head over to the garden to begin our project. The women in Penyem have formed an organization called Soforai Women’s Association (Soforai means “Come Together”.) They depend on gardening and selling the produce in the nearest town to have money to send their children to school, and put clothes on their backs. Until recently, the village has not had a good source of water, and the women have been gardening over one mile from their homes – in the bush. Now, the water source has been restored, and the women would like to return to the village garden. However, there is no proper fence surrounding the village garden, and the animals eat the women’s plants down to a nub. Today, we will help to repair the garden fence so that the women may once again work there. We also will help to install and repair the irrigation system that brings water via pipes and spigots to the village garden. For dinner we will enjoy local food prepared by the young women of Penyem. The evening is spent playing cards by candlelight or just laughing and talking with our new Gambian friends. Day 5 Awake after a good night’s sleep to the sounds of morning in Penyem. After a relaxing breakfast, we will complete our project at the women’s garden. Before lunch, we will have the opportunity to wander through the village, meeting families, touring compounds, and visiting the preschool and junior high in the village. After lunch, the villagers will congregate on the main road, and we will kick off the inaugural Penyem 10K! After a fun day of play, we will eat local food prepared by local women and then enjoy a spectacular cultural display of dancing and drum playing. Don’t be surprised if you are pulled into the dancing circle by a new Gambian friend! The drum beats are intoxicating and the dust is flying! This is a night you will not soon forget. Day 6 After breakfast, we will pack up our gear and say goodbye to our new friends from Penyem. A bus will transport us to the Kairaba Hotel, a premier beach resort in Kotu, just outside of Serrekunda. We will unwind by the pool with a locally-brewed JulBrew beer and reflect on our time in Penyem before enjoying an evening run on the beach. Dinner will be at The Butcher’s Shop, a locally-owned restaurant with an impressive wine list. Day 7 Sleep in before enjoying a continental breakfast on the veranda at the Kairaba Hotel. Today we will travel to Serrekunda to experience its extensive markets, where you can explore local shops and purchase authentic African masks and other woodcraft. Today's run takes us down a tree-shaded and coastal road just north of Kotu. Enjoy dinner at the Ngala Lodge situated on cliffs with a panoramic view of tropical gardens and the Atlantic Ocean. Travel books call this restaurant “the best in The Gambia.” Day 8 Enjoy our final brunch together at the Kairaba. Lounge by the pool or play life-size chess games and Bocce ball outside. Drink lots of JulBrew, and eat one last mango before saying goodbye to our Gambian Host and a life changing week in West Africa. |
