Good Evening G-Lers,
It has been a few years since I have posted to your forum but, I do
occasionally browse through the archives to see what is being
discussed here. I have just recently decided to plunge in and subscribe
myself to the L, in order to reach as many Gambians and friends of the
Gambia as possible to extend an invitation to you to become part of the
Armitage Fund that orginated on the Gambia Post.
On Feb. 11 of this year, an alumnus of Armitage High School, a
gentleman by the name of Karamba Touray, sent a note to the Gambia Post
concerning a video tape of Armitage High school ( I am forwarding his
initial email below to give you the background history to bring you up
to speed, as well as an update, giving further detail about the
school's current situation), and what he saw to be an alarming sight,
of a school fighting to carry on the ever-so-important function of
educating Gambian youths, under less than desirable conditions, more
accurately put, dilapidated conditions. After reading his email on the
Post, and thinking about it for a couple of days straight, I decided that
I would take my turn and volunteer to collect from those that were
interesting in contributing money towards
the school. In the update (see below), you will note that the most
urgent need was lighting for the students to study by, since
electricity is not reliable, the students were studying by candle
light. So, it was my intention to try to see if we could get enough
interested individuals to shoot for the goal of raising enough to
purchase a generator.
In approximately 2 months time, not only did we raise enough money to
purchase a stand by generator, but, we have also, raised extra money,
to give to the Principal, Mr. Hafner, for the cost of fuel. Through
the efforts of about 30 people (see current list), we have positively
affected the lives of many and to me, this is the beauty and the power
of collective efforts.
Now, I am coming to you, to see if we can help the school with other
much needed items. If you have the means to AND you reside in the US,
you may also add your name to the list of many to help this school by
announcing your intent to pledge and I will collect from you. At
certain points during collection, I do send the money to Karamba and
Karamba sends it to the chosen custodian of the Funds, Morro Fatty, in
Banjul. As you know, any amount makes a difference whether it is one
dollar, five dollars, fifty dollars, on up, change can happen with any
amount with mass participation. Also, you will note that there is a gift
section (see current list) which, folks have come up with creative ways to
give, sothere is room for any type of giving. If you are unable to
financially assist but, you have ideas, resources that could lead to
funding, that can also be of great assistance as we move forward. Now, I
know there are many individuals outside of the U.S. that may be interested
in assisting the school and for you I will take your name for now, and
once we have a web site established, I will notify you in private so you
may contribute via the web site. The other alternative, is you can start
your own collection in your present country of residence.
I thank you all for your eyes and your time and here is my contact
information. If anyone has any questions about the Fund, please feel
free to email me.
Oh, and before I forget, in my searching for other Armitage alumni, I
did find an interesting site, www.sumaharit.com where Gambians can find
your classmates for free, you just have to register.
Okay, contact info...
Christine Sukuna (The Armitage Fund)
1333 Wedgewood Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703 USA
Phone: 715-835-1274
email: [log in to unmask]
Thank you everyone for your time. I do appreciate it.
The best to you,
Christine Sukuna
CURRENT LIST ***KT=money sent to Karamba on 03/30/04
Karamba Touray $100.00 pledge ($100.00 received 03/18/04)-KT
Chris Sukuna $400.00 pledge ($400.00 received 03/08/04)-KT
Soffie Ceesay $50.00 pledge ($50.00 received 03/13/04)-KT
Banka Manneh pledged-$50.00 ($50.00 received 03/26/04)-KT
Dr. Saine $100.00 pledge
Cynthia Daniels $50.00 pledge ($50.00 received 3/5/04)-KT
Karamo $100.00 pledge ($125.00 received 03/26/04)-KT
Habib Ghanim $50.00 pledge (50.00 received 04/01/04)
Kebba Foon pledged-$25.00 ($25.00 received 04/01/04)
Yankubu Darboe $100.00 pledge
Abibou Jallow $100.00 pdg ($100.00 recv'd 03/15/04)*see gifts-KT
Binneh Minteh pledged
Kabba Jimbara pledged-$30.00 ($30.00 received 03/19/04)-KT
Ismaila Hydara pledged (See below in gifts section -delivered to AHS)
Ousman Bojang pledged
Nicole Garrett $100.00 pledge ($100.00 received 03/13/04)-KT
Maila Touray $50.00 pledge ($50.00 received 03/29/04)-KT
Baba G. Jallow $100.00 pledge ($100.00 received 03/22/04)-KT
George Sarr $19.99 pledge
Essa B. Sey pledged (details in the works)
Yaya Jallow $50.00 pledge ($50.00 received 03/29/04)-KT
F.Samateh Family$50.00 pledge ($50.00 received 03/30/04)
Ousman Gajigo $50.00 pledge ($50.00 received 04/15/04)
The Darbo kids...various equipment and supplies
Haruna Darbo....600 mattresses and 100 bags of rice
Morro Ceesay....renewable energy technology (details in the works)
Abibou Jallow...web site support
Ismaila Hydara..various sports equipment, trophy and funds
INITIAL 911 POSTING WRITTEN BY KARAMBA TOURAY
A couple of weekends ago I was in Maryland visiting friends and ran
into a video shot by and Armitage alumnus visiting the school ealier
this year. I was devastated and saddened at the current state of this
once wonderful school where many a Gambian spent their formative years
to be mould into successful adults. From the video tape the place
eerily resembles a refuge camp replete with delapidated buildings,
leaking and hanging ceilings, and a student body going by the sampling
that appeared on tape that looks hungry , tired and
uncharacteristically young. Nowhere is the decline in Armitage's
fortunes more palpable than in the living dormitories where students
that once lived in neat rows of beds separated by lockers and suitcases
with clean tiles and decent glass windows all of which are kept clean
as part of daily and weekly duties. Today children are having to bunk
on bed frames supported by cement blocks topped with what looks like
shrunken remains of 25 year old mattresses. I have to believe that
accomodations in the georgetown prisons just outside of campus can't be
any worse. It is an utter disgrace that children can be kept in such a
state and expected to learn. The living conditions are so bad and the
school so strapped for cash that it has long ceased to attract the kind
of quality teachers it used to get and as a result the predicatable
decline in standards are almost as bad as the decaying
infrastructure.The school has not had any electricity for the last
several months and the department of Education can't seem to deliver
even a portable generator to the 527 children who must endure the heat
and mosquitoes of campus not to mention forgo valuable time to do the
rudimentary science in the faltering labs and night studies.
I spoke to a person who worked at the school for years in an
attempt to understand the very serious problems that has resulted in
the catastrophy unfolding. He said they would routinely prepare annual
budgets that made bare minimum assumptions and forward it to the
ministry after the board reveiws it . When it gets to the bureaucrats
and number crunchers at the department of finance the school is told
that gov't can't afford their budget and as a result they will only get
appropriations 30- 40% below their estimates. The school is then told
to make up the
difference by raisning their fees from a student body more than 90% of
whom come from families with little or no income. The school tries to
use what little leverage they have over these poor students and their
families but the fact is you will never get money from sources where
none exists. Poor people simply won't be able to pay thousands of
Dalasis for the education of their children. So the school ends up not
being able to get examination results from WAEC and a good chunk of the
kids can't get text books and cycle continues.
Apart from gov't neglect , Armitage has not benefited from the
attention and organised help of it's vast alumni all of whom feel a
special bond for a place that has helped shape their lives. The needs
of the institution are now so acute and extensive that only a very
broad base of participants working on a long term intiative can begin
to ameliorate the most urgent needs and also devise ways to ensure that
the school marches into future viable and up to standard . Armitage is
going to need vast sums of money, sustained alumni participation and
much more
effective management. In this regard I want to propose the creation of
a website that would serve as a resourse base for anyone interested in
finding out about the overall needs of the school.The site would also
illicit ideas from folks on how best to get solutions that go beyond
the limitations of small contributions. To be sure small individual
efforts matter a great deal especially to the very needy kid that
benefits from it. For example an individual can pledge a small
endowment for a favorite subject with the stipulation that the student
that excels in that subject every year would earn a certain amount and
a merit citation.Or we can have individuals or groups work on ways to
help design and finace locally produced beds , while others try to
negotiate financing arrangements from the local foam mattress
manufacturer for the beds. Those who have
information and access to establishments outside of the country that
may be able to help are especially encouraged to do their utmost to
make a pitch for the school. To be effective we must network and
coordinate our efforts once we identify most of the needs and develop a
credible
plan of action. While I believe alumni has special responsibility , I
would like to appeal to everyone in a position to help to contemplate
doing so. A venerable institution is in distress , fighting for it's
very life for the first time since it was established in 1927.
Thank you
Karamba
THE UPDATE WRITTEN BY KARAMBA TOURAY
folks,
I had a lengthy conversation with the principal of Armitage on
the overall thrust of our efforts to try to help the school and he
shared valuable insights on the nature of the challenges the school
faces and suggestions on how best to evolve a plan of action.I also
discussed with him the the generous pledge my good friend Hurana made
regarding the provision of mattress and some help with food and
needless to say he is very much appreciative of all the potential
help.He also indicated that electricity is a very serious problem and
that students are currently straining under candle light studying not
to mention the mosquitoes.The local power plant has become so
unreliable that only a small standby generator can help the students
with atleast a few hours of
electricity per day. I checked in Banjul and found out that portable
generators run from anywhere from $600 to $1100. I also called the Foam
factory in Kanifing and spoke to the proprietor a Mr Nasser and he
indicated he would give us a quote and subsequently manufacture the
mattress once he gets the size and thickness specifications from the
school. The principal has told me he would fax that information to Mr
Nasser today (Monday) and i will call him tomorrow to get a quote on
600 mattresses. The principal also indicated that the school's metal
workshop is equiped to construct the kind of simple beds the students
very badly need once we can help them procure materials from vendors in
Banjul. He himself taught wood and metal work when i was a student
there and he is pledging personal participation in a project that would
mobilise the students to make their own beds right there on campus. I
have asked him to prepare a detail budget on the proposal indicating
the cost of material and the schedule of production.If we are able to
get the beds made on campus, we can similarly work on helping with the
acute desk and chair problems they have in the class rooms and dinning
hall at some later date when we can muster the resources. Combining the
school's abundance of man power with the material help we offer would
be a very effecient way to address these very large problems.
I was not able to find a local producer of rice to give me an
estimate on the cost of a 100 bags but i will keep at it . I thank
Chris for facilitating the communication with the Gambia with the
provision of a calling card. In the meantime folks who wish to drop an
email for the prinicipal or the school in general can do so at
[log in to unmask]
Thank you
Karamba
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