HOW DOES IT WORK?
We assign children to sponsors according to the gravity of family conditions. Our priority are those children who are left with no parents, single-parent children and children who come from big families. Every sponsor-to-be can choose the child they wish to sponsor. Pictures of all children who need help can be found by clicking HERE.
All children come from underprivileged areas of Serekunda and from Barra village. These people live in extremely poor conditions. The majority of families live in small houses, some have no electricity and running water. Some of them have to walk very far to get water. 5 people or more sleep in a single room on the floor. None of children have their own room. Mothers cook outside using charcoal. The toilet is outdoors, usually surrounded by a wall for some privacy. They wash themselves by pouring water on themselves since there are no showers.
INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDREN
Every sponsor has the right to obtain all information regarding the child they are sponsoring by paying monthly donations and/or yearly school fees. We don’t publish any information about the children because we wouldn’t want that children and their families’ sad stories full of suffering and humiliation affect the decision of those who want to help. Personal data and social status of families can be accessed by those who help these children, namely sponsors, and with the permission of a child’s parents, of course. It is our duty to respect each individual’s right to privacy, and therefore we DO NOT PUBLISH children’s data. These children will grow up in a couple of years’ time and we cannot know where life will take them. The World Wide Web and newest communication information technologies have made all their users vulnerable to privacy violations. Some are not yet aware of all possibilities of abuse that they are exposed to on the Net. Every uploaded picture, information or video increases the possibilities of abuse now and in the future.
Every picture is published with permission and parents of children we are helping are fully informed of all our activities.
MONTHLY DONATIONS
Monthly payments of 17€ are made by 18th every month at the latest to the bank account of humanitarian organisation Charity Pearl. You can make payments every six months or even a year in advance.
We distribute funds once per month therefore we would like to point out that it is of utmost importance that you make the transfer in due date every month. We currently have over 190 sponsors and we would like to kindly ask you that in case you decide to sponsor a child that you take our instructions into consideration and transfer the funds by 18th every month. In case you do not make the transfer in time, extra expenses are incurred in order to distribute money to the family. Families in The Gambia depend on our help and can hardly wait for it every month. It may be hard to imagine what 17€ means to them but we can ensure you that this amount is an enormous help to them.
Parents or guardians in The Gambia have to sign a paper and confirm that they have received the funds. Records are kept in The Gambia. Our condition for parents to receive money is that children regular attend the school. In case we find out that the child isn’t attending school, we advice to the parents and if the situation does not change, we are forced to stop the sponsorship for particular child and we inform the sponsor.
In case sponsors stop paying donations we immediately look for another sponsor for the child. We insist that sponsors inform us in time – after they have paid their last monthly contribution or by 5th in month at the latest.
Transfers for the yearly school fee are made once per year to our bank account.
CONTACT WITH THE CHILDREN
How can you keep in touch with the children?
TRAVEL AS A VOLUNTEER – VISIT THE CHILDREN
Program Travel as a volunteer enables sponsors to visit families in The Gambia. The idea sprang up from a wish from a sponsor to visit and get to know the children in The Gambia. The journey is suitable for anyone! All those who would like to help Gambian children by working in a local kindergarten as a volunteer are more than welcome to join us.
You can find all information about travelling to The Gambia by clicking HERE.
LETTERS TO CHILDREN IN THE GAMBIA
You can send a letter to your sponsored child, which has to be written in English. You can enclose your photo as well as a photo of the child you are sponsoring. They are delighted when they receive photos, since they cannot afford to develop photographs. Your children can draw a picture. We kindly ask you not to write about where you have traveled, what you have bought. Write about families, yourself, your family members.
You can send your letters to our address in The Gambia.
YOU CAN TALK WITH THE CHILDREN ON SKYPE
It’s possible to have a talk with the children over Skype, which requires minimum costs. You need to make a prior arrangement. If necessary, we will assist with translation. Older children that attend school speak English and are easier to communicate with.
GIFTS FOR THE CHILDREN
You can send a gift for the children. Be sure to include the name of the child. The package must be sent in a registered shipment (no need for priority or air mail because shipments need up to 45 days on average, no matter the type of mail). In case you are sending a package that contains an object (not a letter), additional duties have to be paid in The Gambia. The amount depends on the value of the shipment, or amounts to 3 EUR min.
In case you send a gift to a child, we take a photo of both of them and send the photo to the sponsor. All costs of sending a gift are covered by sponsors.
Address in The Gambia:
CHARITY PEARL – THE GAMBIA
PO BOX 2902
LATRIKUNDA GERMAN, SEREKUNDA
THE GAMBIA, WEST AFRICA
Costs of sending packages to The Gambia can be quite high. For that reason, you have the option of making a payment to our account for a child’s birthday or any other occasion. We will distribute the money to the family who can buy valuable/bigger gift for he child, and besides that, you won’t have to worry about the right size, colour and usefulness of the gift. We will send you a photo of gift you’ve sent or the gift family bought for the sponsored child. Please contact us if you need any explanations.
A BIKE FOR A FASTER AND EASIER WAY TO SCHOOL – A gift with a purpose
Some children in The Gambia live in villages that are located up to 10 km away from the school they are visiting, which causes big problems for children who have to walk to school, often barefoot and without a school bag (they carry the books in their hands). A bicycle can prevent many missed classes, being late to school and improve possibilities for a quality education. A bicycle costs 60€ and is of extreme importance to children from a disadvantaged background in The Gambia.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS
WE LIVE AND WORK WITH THE CHILDREN
We are permanently present at locations, we have visited the children and families that we help and we have seen the conditions they live in. We are aware that we need to be present at locations because this is the only way we can supervise where the funds go. Thus, security of funds from our donors is ensured.
WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND PERSONAL CONTACT
Despite the fact that some of our members permanently live in The Gambia, we try to be available for additional information and personal contact at all times. You can talk to the children and we offer first-hand information, all documentation, pictures, videos, as well as informing the public of our activities.
For more information please send us an e-mail at info@travelasvolunteer.com