An Investment with a Guaranteed Return
Nearly 15 years ago, Penyem village was the beneficiary of a grant from a U.S. donor who paid to install the original solar panels, water tank and pumps that provided water to the village for over 12 years. When one part of the system deteriorated, the village was unable to fund the repair to make the whole system useable again. FOP made a relatively small investment (about 30% of the cost of the entire system) to make the system fully functional again, yielding a huge return in the quality of life for the whole village.
The Challenge
GAM-Solar, a Gambian-based company, served as a reliable partner in our mission to repair the Penyem water system. Recently, FOP was approached by GAM-Solar with an appeal to help several other villages in similar situations across The Gambia. Like Penyem, roughly 10-15 years ago many village water systems in The Gambia were funded by foreign organizations but have since fallen into disrepair and, with a small investment, can be made fully functional again, bringing new life to villages burdened with disease and significant hurdles to economic stability.
The Opportunity
We are pleased to announce a new initiative for 2009-2011 that will spread the impact of FOP dollars outside of Penyem and allow FOP donors to improve the lives of poor men, women and children across The Gambia. We have undertaken a $30,000 fundraising campaign for repair of at least two solar-powered water systems that, like Penyem, require only a small investment to become clean water sources for entire communities. The basic infrastructure exists--all that is needed is a small investment to yield enormous returns in health and economic stability. Please help us move forward with this exciting opportunity by donating to the project, or email us to learn other ways you can help.
Learn More
According to the WHO, over 13% of deaths in The Gambia are attributable to disease caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene resources. Immediate access to plentiful water from a clean source, such as the water delivery system installed in Penyem, is a proven intervention to reduce the incidence of diarrhea and other potentially life-threatening illnesses. To read more from the WHO's report, Safer Water, Better Health, click here.
Announcing the FOP 2008-2009 Scholarship Recipients
We're proud to announce the results of our scholarship selection process for the 2008-2009 academic year. This year we received over 30 applications - more applications than ever before.2008-2009 Scholarship Recipients:
Kaddy Bah
grade 8, Latrikunda Sabiji Upper Basic School
Mariama Jarju
grade 9
Fatou Bah
grade 10, Model Senior Secondary School
Jainaba Bah
grade 11, Maahad Senior Secondary School
Bintou Anna Kujabi
grade 11, Methodist Academic
Jainaba Bah
grade 12, Kunta Kinteh Senior Secondary School
Hawa Jallow
Management Development Institute, business
Fatou Janneh
Gambia College, teaching
Maritatou Nyassi
Gambia Technical Training Institute, construction
Abdoulie Bah
grade 8, Jamisa Upper Basic School
Ebrima Nyassi
grade 9, Penyem Upper Basic School
Jerreh Jarju
grade 9, Kitty Upper Basic School
Amadou Jatta
grade 10, Bottrop Senior Secondary School
Amadou Jallow
grade 10, Bottrop Senior Secondary School
Gaston Sambou
grade 10, Sifee Senior Secondary School
Ousman Jallow
grade 10, Bottrop Senior Secondary School
Omar Bah
grade 10, Bottrop Senior Secondary School
Adama Bah
grade 12, Mingdaw Senior Secondary School
Landing Nyassi
University of the Gambia
2008 Project: Women's Garden
After great success with the water system in 2007, we are eager to help the village take full advantage of the economic opportunities that the water creates. One major way the village can benefit economically from water is by gardening.
Before the water system stopped working, the women had a large garden near the center of the village. When the water system stopped working, the women moved the garden far outside the village, to a low-lying area where "hand wells" could be easily created for water.
Now that the water system is working, the women in the village can begin using the garden that is much closer to their homes - which saves them hours of travel time each week back and forth from the garden.
There are two major obstacles to the women going back to the village garden:
1. Lack of adequate fencing to keep out cows, goats, chickens and other animals.
2. Disrepair of the pipes and faucets from the water source to the garden.
We are currently fundraising for these projects and recruiting volunteers to travel to the Gambia this summer to help with the project!
Thanks in advance for your support!
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