Debbie Williams: December 2010

Wednesday 29 December 2010

What a contrast!

Leaving the beautiful Gambian sunshine and azure blue skies to arrive
48 hours delayed in frosty Britain was hard. Having just spent
Christmas with my family, I have appreciated all the food, drink and
goodies on offer but have to say that I find it all slightly crazy.
The sheer amount of food (and waste) is just baffling. I watched the
Band Aid documentary a few days ago and just cannot comprehend the
misbalance and unfairness of the distribution of food in our global
world. The Herald ran an article on the homeless living in Plymouth and
I realised that if they were living in The Gambia, they would not be
living on the streets. In spite of the poverty of many Gambians, they
would always offer someone a bed and food, never leaving anyone outside
to sleep, even a complete stranger. Given the recent weather
conditions I cannot fathom how we let this deplorable situation happen
in our
so-called civilised community.

I'm going to be here in the UK for a while as my dear Dad is in
Derriford, having had his leg amputated in Spain a couple of months ago
and now suffering complications. Get well soon, Dad!
On February 24th, our kind hosts Dan and Colin, along with Mama Tokus
who will be compering, are holding a fundraising event for Gambian
Projects at the B Bar, on Plymouth Barbican. It starts at 8pm and
tickets just £5 are available from Debbie on 07596 249987. The
proceeds of
the event will help pay for another container of useful items heading
out to
The Gambia in the Spring. A huge thanks to Reg Hackworthy of Plymouth
Self
Storage who has again sponsored a storage unit for us.

If anyone has any items they would like to donate please get in touch
with Debbie
by email on dwdebs@aol.com. We are also looking for sponsors for the
event as
we will be holding a charity auction and raffle to boost funds. So if
you had too much
for Christmas, feel free to donate anything you don't want/need as
auction or raffle
prizes!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the Editor and all the
staff at The Herald who
have been great supporters of Gambian Projects since we started.
Wishing you all
a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year and all the best in 2011.

Until next time

Debbie

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Plymouth-born teacher Debbie Williams has given up her comfortable lifestyle to live in an African mud hut with no water, electricity or sanitation.

Debbie was born at her family home in North Hill and taught modern languages at schools in and around the city, becoming Head of Languages at Notre Dame.

For six years, she also owned a dress-hire business called One Night Stand.

Debbie said: “I had a good lifestyle: a house, a car, travel, money to spend on hairdos, pedicures, shoes, handbags and eating out six nights a week.

“But I was not able to have children, and had a dream of being surrounded by children and having a massive family.”

The trip that changed her life came in 2005 when she helped lead a trip to The Gambia with 16 Plymouth College students.

She was struck by the friendliness of the people and the poverty in which they lived: no modern facilities, insect bites and malaria, a lack of variety of food. She saw women carrying heavy pots of water on their head, and setting off for a day’s toil in the rice-fields with a baby strapped to their back.

But most of all, she realised how the people were held back by illiteracy and lack of education, and resolved to do what she could to help.

On the same trip to Kerewan Samba Sira, she met a builder called Modou Fatty, who was also involved in local projects; they fell in love and were married two years ago.

She was welcomed into his family, despite the fact they are Moslems and she is a practising Christian, and now she is a vital part of the big extended family she has always longed for.

Debbie said: “I am trying to improve literacy and numeracy in the village, which is still living in the 17th century.

“I know it’s only a drop in the ocean, but through education they can have the freedom to make choices and hope for the future.”

Debbie is trying to help in practical ways by building a classroom, a nursery and a library in two villages.

She is also providing sewing machines so women can start businesses, donating gardening equipment such as a tiller and a chainsaw and encouraging local people to set up small gardens where they can grow and sell banana plants.

In the coastal village of Mediana, 250km away, she has built a round hut for accommodation and a school costing £2,500.

She hopes it will become a base where students can come during their gap year to share their knowledge and skills with local people.

Meanwhile, in her home village of Kerewan Samba Sira, she is enjoying becoming a valued and respected member of the community.

Debbie said: “We in the educated West don’t realise how much we know, and people ask me for everything from medical advice to checking their homework.

“There are very few books here and little to read.”

Debbie’s husband speaks fluent English and three local languages, two of which she is learning – and though life is hard, there are compensations.

The lights fail when frequent petrol shortages mean the generator cannot run – but there is no rent to pay, no utility bills, no work treadmill and no stress.