The Phoenix rises as a Hawk - Gambia Welding

Hi. Thank you first of all for taking time out to read this request for funding which is on behalf of Ansumana (Ansu) Camara of Lamin in The Gambia. I have known Ansu for 6 years and have found him to be a yooung man of trust and of integrity.

I 1st met Ansu when he was a tour guide for tourists who came to The Gambiafor bird watching. The Gambia has a rich and diverse variety of birds and many came prior to the pandemic to experience the sightings of the birds. Sadly, that came to an end with the pandemic and Ansu found himself jobless and with a wife and child to support.

Ansu decided to move away from bird watching tours and fund a college course with the money he had saved. The course he selected was in welding and metal work. On passing the course and receiving his qualification certificates, he then used his remaining savings to rent a small store in the compound where he lives and to buy some of the equipment that he needs to run the business. He also formally registered the business (photos attached) as "Hawk Welding and Fabrication Workshop".

I went to see Ansu in November. His next steps are to get solar power so he can use the electric equipment in the workshop; to obtain work benches and to buy more tools. He will then advertise his business to his local community. This is where he needs your help. Can you help him please in this by donating to the GoFundMe?

The phoenix is a mythical bird that appears in one form, ends its life and starts again in a new form. This is what Ansu is trying to do. To move forward for the benefit of his family and his commmunity but in doing so, keep the memory of his fornmer job alive. You may see some photos of some of the birds of The Gambia pinned up in his workshop on the photos with him and his child in the building.

Thank you so much for reading this appeal and I hope you will feel moved and inspired to support it.

Stuart