The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. The capital is called Banjul. The country is dividend into a South and a North bank by the Central River Gambia, which runs all the way from the ocean up to the Senegalese border. The Gambia is known for its warm hospitality, smiling faces, rich cultural traditions and relaxed pace of life. But also for it's poverty, high unemployment level and a corrupt government. It has diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. It's abundant wildlife includes monkeys, hippos, leopards, hyenas and rare birds. The country also offers a wide range of forest and beaches. The daily standard of living is sometimes very low due to poverty. And a big part of the Gambian population really has to struggle to meet up with their daily needs. Venturing beyond the bustling coastal resorts, in the tourism area, into the rural villages, offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the traditional Gambian lifestyle. Immersing yourself in a local community provides memorable insights you simply won't find in tourist brochures. The Gambia has a strong sense of community Life in a Gambian village revolves around an extended family structure and strong community spirit. It is common for multiple generations of the same family to live together in family compounds. Neighbours rely on each other for childcare, gathering and preparing food, building and maintaining homes, and other daily tasks. Elders are greatly respected for their wisdom and life experience. There is a palpable sense of caring and togetherness evident in everyday village life. The Gambia has vibrant Markets and Commerce The village markets form both the commercial and social hubs of rural communities. Most Gambians live from " hand to mouth". But if they can grow extra crops they sell it at local markets. The vendors hawk fresh, locally grown produce, handmade crafts, textiles, clothing, and more in lively open-air market settings. Haggling and bartering over prices is simply part of the everyday commerce. Observing the daily market transactions and interactions provides great insight into the local economy and way of life.
Struggles, Strength, & Helping Our Community
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Insight Into Local Life By Omar
Some insight into local life
Living in a Gambian village seems at first sight, peaceful, romantic and charming. But if we look further than we start to realize that it is also very hard and tough. If you click on the link below and watch the video, you will get an idea of the daily life for the woman.
As you can see, despite the hard circumstances the Gambian people are friendly, and often smiling. The Gambia is called the "The Smiling coast of Africa". Here people are not used to showing their emotions. So behind those smiling faces they hide their real emotions. The kids are always outside playing their local games, with almost non playing materials. They simply use what they can find and turn it into toys. And they are happy with it. Like the adults, they don't complain, they just adhere to the local circumstances. Gambians are respecting hospitality and can easily graciously welcome strangers or visitors into their family compounds, they always will be sharing the little they have. They are used to help each other and keep human connections and mutual understanding high. For visitors, especially those from abroad, spending an extended period immersed in Gambian village life provides a profound and eye-opening perspective into this unique way of living. While adjusting to the demanding daily routines can be challenging at first, they offer invaluable cultural insight. Gambian village culture has been shaped by centuries of passed-down traditions. And they are deeply rooted and respected. This is part of the rich living heritage of the real Gambia. From ancient customs to skilled craftsmanship, daily life in a Gambian village offers an authentic window into traditional culture. By participating in daily activities like cooking traditional Gambian dishes, farming the land, fetching water, and gathering firewood, visitors gain first-hand experience of how local villagers live. The slower pace and physically demanding routines of Gambian village life provide a profoundly different rhythm compared to most Western lifestyles. Simple chores like hand washing clothes, hauling water for long distances, farming crops manually, gathering firewood, and walking miles to grind grains give an authentic insight into local daily life
Witnessing the sense of community, rich cultural traditions, and basic contentment fostered through simple Gambian village living often impacts visitors deeply. Many return home with shifted priorities, and a new appreciation for necessities taken for granted, and an unforgettable outlook on life.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
The Update On Well Funding
Hey you all. All of the cross posting and networking has reached the right people.
We may now have an organization that will help fundraise the cost of the borehole and well. I have been talking to ACE - Ayeshas.org.uk. We have been speaking for a few months now on options to get a well to Omar and his compound and surrounding areas. We have now found a group called Crisis Aid that is willing to help raise the funding and then correspond to get this well done.
IDK how long this may take. But it is progress and I am happy to report it to you all!!!
We are still trying to locate a safe place to make a wish list that will ensure that any items for school supplies can be purchased and then donated to the schools in Gambia. That is still a work in progress. As always if you know of any missions or organizations or even West African e-commerce sites that offer this way of creating a list to be fulfilled please reach out!
Here is Omar'sTiktok
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
How Our Garden Is Coming Along This February
We have been working very hard to grow food. It is more difficult in the months with no rain. Our rainy season food grows very fast and we preserve as much as possible. But, when we cannot grow food we go hungry until the point that those of us that can work receive payment at the end of the month.
Once we are paid, we can purchase food that is available to eat. I have a mother and a daughter. I make sure they eat, and there are times I do not. The need for the well will literally save our compound if we are able to get one. Here is a few videos of the progress of our garden.
Here is Omar'sTiktok
The baby plants we are working on.
Some of the progress that has gone on this month.
Omar in the garden.
What A Well In Gambia Looks Like & What We Have Currently
So here in Gambia, there are ways to get a well. It is difficult to get the people to help here. A well is not super expensive for others outside of our country, but to us its near impossible.
A typical well costs around 400-600 pounds. A working person in Gambia makes barely 15 to 25 USD in 30 days. This is not per hour, this is literally for an entire month. That money has to go towards food as well as housing and seeds. It's not much, but it gets us through.
Here is Omar'sTiktok
This is the type of well we need. It holds water and allows more water to be stored and used by more people.
This small well is our current available water source to the whole area and that is many people. By the time we each get some water, it's gone for the day and must have time to refill.
If anyone in the USA knows of reliable options to help us get the funding we need for the well school supplies, please email us.
Tiffaniapsp@gmail.com
Drammehomar210@gmail.com
Thursday, February 12, 2026
What We Can Grow In Rainy Season
Hello friends.
During the rainy season here we grow a lot of food. Fruits and veggies and our trees grow lush with mangos. We grow corn and okra and melons. We try to dry preserve a lot of our food to last through the dry months. When in our dry months we get no rain. So, to grow plants we need to bring water from place to place like I showed in the last video.
Here is Omar'sTiktok
Cucumbers
Mangos
onions
Mango trees
Pumkin Goards
Melons
A well would allow my compound and neighboring compounds access to clean and flowing water that we can then not have to worry about if we will get sick from animals using the restroom in our water, or the e-coli or other bacteria that run rampant in our source currently.
A well currently would cost 400 british pounds to build.
We are searching for a mission or organization that can help us make this a reality.
Each day my compound walks back and forth. 10 minutes each way to get water. By the end of the day we have barely any to get until the next morning as the source refills from the underground water. Every water we get has to be rationed for drinking, cleaning, and watering our plants to try to grow during the dry season. When the plants burn from lack of water that means we go without food.
I work 2 jobs. In one I help clean and maintain a building. This job pays $25 USD a month. I do not accept this money. It goes to put these children through school since they no longer have parents. This money is enough to get them in school and make sure they have some food and care since they have no one else to do it for them.
I am also trying to create a wishlist to get these children school supplies. We are looking for a e-commerce site that allows wishlists and purchases that can be delivered to my compound in Gambia and surrounding areas.
My other job is at night. I work all night long and keep a fire going. I watch our compound and protect it over the night time hours. This job pays me $15 a month.
That money has to pay for rent and what food I can afford at the end of each month.
When there is no food, I do not eat. I have a daughter as well that I support and I must do my best in order to help her survive as her mother is not around.
My mother is older and almost completely deaf. She helps around the garden and compound as well.
Here is some pictures from around the compound and the children and my mother.
Monday, February 9, 2026
Watering My Garden
Watering the garden in the USA is very easy. We have access to hoses and pumps and irrigation systems. That is not the case in Gambia. Here is a video that shows how we water our gardens in my country. Our ground is very hard during the dry season as you can see in the first video. I have Tiktok and that is a great place to see more videos from me.
Here is Omar'sTiktok
How we water in my compound.
As you can see everything is by hand. Buckets of water, pail by pail. We carry them on foot back from the existing water source. This source is depleted daily so we have to rise early to get the water for the day. It is a 10 minute walk each way. We take what we can carry and use as much as possible to grow food.
It is important to note that in Gambia, water is NOT clean. It is used by animals and can be infected by e coli as well. It is very important that we take every precaution to make what we can get last the day and try to make it as safe as possible to drink.
We need a well that will give us safe drinking water.
The purpose of this blog is to help get funding for a well and we also are attempting to start a wishlist to help get items for the children for school.
When that is available I will have all links ready for readers to check on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)