Gambia, an amazing country

What to expect, what to prepare, what.... So many questions floating through my head before the big departure to The Gambia.  How was I to know that this country was going to give me a once in a lifetime experience on so much levels. 

Arriving at the airport it was allready clear to me that my feelings were simular to those of my fellow travellers.  We talked about our expectations, our concerns and so much more. No doubt, this great bunch of people were about to become friends for life.

Allready in the airplane I new that exiting things were to be expected after eating a very spicy African lunch.  Same thing after disembarking, very hot.. and the thing which struck me the most is the people at the Banjul airport, offering their service for a bit of money. 

This was the first time I realized this was about to become a very emotional but interesting journey. 

The whole week became a sequence of events which I will take along in my storytelling within the TNT environment.  Beginning with the warm welcome of WFP, the warmth, the respect and the gratitude of the Gambian people, followed by the way the population is trying to survive every day and ending with the breathtaking emotions when seeing a whole school klapping hands for us. 

The schoolfeeding program of WFP in strong collaboration with TNT is without any doubt a succesfull program.  Kids are being fed every day with all necessary vitamins thanks to our fundraising and knowledge transfer.  Being in the Gambia made me once more realise that this MUST continue at all times, that despite our economical crisis we must not forget to care about people, that our position in life makes it possible to donate so that kids can eat once a day but most of all, that I myself express respect for the great job the people working at the WFP are doing every day with passion and devotion. 

Special thanks to TNT for giving me this opportunity, to Vitoria, Isatou, Sarah, Darco, Mariam and our fantastic drivers, to Jen for being who you are and guiding us successfully through this Fieldtrip, to Karin for the preparations and to my fellow fieldtrippers whom I would like to call friends for life.