“I decided to volunteer through Charity Pearl organization particularly because it enables the sponsors to visit their sponsored children and therefore gives the chance to meet them and see for ourselves, who we are helping. With some organizations you don’t even know the name of the child you are helping”, said Teja.
Teja Samsa, a sponsor and volunteer, arrived to the Gambia on the evening of October 21st 2014.
She decided to become a sponsor a year and a half ago. This year she decided to visit her beautiful girl, Ndey Coco Sarr . She chose program Travel as a Volunteer, which enables daily interaction with the children and the locals, because she wanted to do just that. Her wish of seeing authentic life in Africa, its school system, living conditions of the locals and seeing the everyday life of modest people, is fulfilling.
She spent some an unforgettable days in the village Barra. Whenever she decided to visit her, she hired a taxi to drive her to the capital Banjul, from where she boarded a ferry, which is one of the fastest ways of crossing the river/sea when there is no technical problems. Local boats are also available but she would use them in case ferry wouldn’t run.
When she first visited Ndey Coco Sarr, the family welcomed her with open arms and smiles on their faces. Ndey Coco’s guardian personally thanked Teja, who has been taking care of the girl for a long time with her monthly contributions. He told her that her help positively affected the girl’s life and that without her help, Ndey Coco couldn’t have attended school. The monthly allowance enables her to get one meal per day at school, to buy school supplies, get medicine in case of sickness etc. She is also the oldest of her siblings and it is all the more important for her to get the help; otherwise she will face the same fate as her peers – to stay at home, cook, do laundry etc.
Teja brought the girl a gift, which Ndey Coco then didn’t let go of. She also gave some money to the family to buy food. The family was immensely happy.
“I felt some kind of special warmth and I had a tingling sensation all over my body when I met them,” Teja added.
Teja escorted the girl to her school, where she showed Teja her class and told her that her favourite subject was English. When asked what she would want for her birthday, she said a bicycle. It’s every child’s dream to have a bicycle, so Teja promised that she would grant her wish on her birthday. Next, they headed to the house, where Ndey Coco lived and she shyly showed the room, where she slept. Extremely modest circumstances and difficult living conditions were a shock to Teja.
While being in the village she also visited historical site Fort Bullen and a small museum, where she was briefly described the history of slavery. Lunch was already waiting in the house where the family of the Charity Pearl’s founder lives. Domoda, a traditional dish with rice, chicken and peanut sauce. Teja was thrilled with the hospitality and the good food.
“The locals and the children accepted me very well, they let me see their living spaces, showed me that they are grateful and gave me the feeling that I’m a part of their big family. I spent a wonderful time with them and I’m definitely returning to Gambia, to the warm and smiling people,” said Teja at the end.
