(27.01.2009) “Beautiful days! Yes, they were! Who knew that at one time we would be in the beautiful land of Gambia? The people are very friendly. Have little, but work whole heartedly,” said the leader of Skien Red Cross Youth.
It was Monday when we dropped down in Gambia. What a peaceful country … The people, very versatile. Yes they are. Oh, how we loved it.
We were a group of 13, but the wonders done there were like for 50 people! “United we stand and divided we fall”. Indeed this saying is right. Unity ruled and achieving our goal, we did!
First aid and active choice
One of our activities was to train the Fajikunda Red Cross youth volunteers first aid skills and teach them to be active choice instructors. At least 16 of them managed to successfully complete both trainings with two beautiful certificates for each!
As requested by one Mr. Ousmane K link leader, we felt it worth to give these courses since they lacked them and it was too expensive for them to employ instructors from other places.

Speaking to us, the board members said they would like this activity of training their volunteers in active choice and first aid to continue since they lose them when they go for further studies and some are getting married and losing interest.
Among others, was a visitation to one kindergarten, where 6 of our kind youths became sponsors to 9 little children from age of 3 and 4.
A thousand blessings
Besides that, we all contributed money for building a toilet door for the children which the headmaster appreciated so much that he showered us with 1000 blessings.
Among others activities, we went on sightseeing, and St. James Island was one of the places we visited. This was a very remarkable place for slave trade to different parts of the world during colonialism. It left Telemark Red Cross youths not the same.


Sharing with one of the youths her opinion, she said that it is very painful seeing a human being selling another with no sense of humane!
One of the responsible group suggested that next time they should organize a trip for the Gambian Red Cross youths to Norway in return.