Hello everyone!
My name is Fatou Jawneh and I am a Gambian who lived in the United States for 28 years before deciding to move back to The Gambia in December 2024 with my husband and two children. After living in The Gambia for almost a year now, I realize my country has a littering problem. People litter without even thinking twice and it breaks my heart. It’s because many are not aware of how littering affects our health and the environment. Another reason is that there are irregular garbage collections and very few public waste bins available. Many do not realize littering is the main reason for the flooding in the country during the rainy season because storm drains get clogged with garbage. I want to do something about this. The Gambia can be litter free and clean!
For the love of my country, I want to make a contribution to its development, and this is a great way to start. I want to start off small and focus on my community first, which is in a town called Tanji, and then eventually move to other areas.
I am collecting donations to be able to gather youths and adults in the community every weekend to pick up trash and to purchase garbage bags and bins, gloves, rakes, and other tools that will assist in the cleaning. I also want to have lunch and refreshments available for the volunteers.
I want to get the local government, schools, mosques, and churches involved in spreading awareness about the effects of littering and to enforce a no-littering policy. I plan to also organize community events and visit local schools to educate the youth about keeping the environment clean.
- Luckily, I was able to get in contact with a local organization called “Tanji Got Talent”created by a teacher named Momodou Jallow. He gathers students to help pick up trash around the community and from the donations they receive, the students are able to purchase school books. I found this to be an extraordinary way to get the youth involved in the community and for them to learn the value of hard work. I want to partner up with “Tanji Got Talent” to accomplish the goal of creating a clean Gambia.
Your donations will go a long way in making this happen. With most Gambians living in poverty and unable to financially contribute to the community, it will be difficult to come up with the finances needed to accomplish this goal. The government and local councils are unreliable when it comes to issues like these, so we the people have to come together and find solutions.
Your donations will make a huge difference in our communities. No amount is too small. Even if you’re unable to donate, you’re still contributing to the cause by sharing this post with family and friends.
Thank you so much for your time and God bless!
Organizer
Fatou Efo Jawneh
Organizer
Duluth, GA