Welcome to Demba's Development Fund: Two Shores, One Sky.
We are launching a new community-focused project to connect Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands with Thiaroye-sur-Mer in Senegal—the coastal home village of our wonderful Chef de Partie at The Old Inn, Demba.
Beyond fundraising, our ultimate goal is to build genuine, long-term community connections and forge a real friendship between our two distant, yet surprisingly similar, coastal villages.
Demba’s Dimanche Dish - To kickstart this initiative, we recently launched "Demba’s Dimanche Dish"—a monthly culinary event at The Old Inn aimed at actively raising donations. Our very first event was an absolute success and completely sold out, raising an incredible £269.20 from our fantastic local community and visiting NC500 tourists.
How the Funds Will Be Used - Every penny raised is going toward measurable, high-impact needs in Thiaroye-sur-Mer. Demba will be personally travelling back to his home village this autumn and will help oversee the deployment of the funds.
Our primary focus for this initial £3,000 target is supporting the local village school and community infrastructure, specifically covering:
- Educational Supplies: Providing essential learning materials and books for children who otherwise couldn't afford to attend, alongside fostering our newly proposed school partnership links with Gairloch.
- Clean Water, Sanitation & Drainage: Improving basic infrastructure at the school and community hub. This includes tackling seasonal flooding issues by upgrading local drainage systems, as well as ensuring pupils have safe, reliable access to clean water and hygienic facilities.
- Sustainable Community Support: Allocating a portion of the funds to local family support initiatives, helping the coastal village build resilience against economic challenges.
By focusing on these clear, tangible areas, we can ensure that even a small donation from the Highlands makes a monumental, life-changing difference on the ground in Senegal.
A Sanctuary for the Talibé: Demba’s Ultimate Dream
Looking beyond our immediate infrastructure goals, the emotional heart of this project is tied to a cause incredibly close to Demba’s heart: supporting the Talibé. These are young Quranic students in Senegal who face extreme hardship and are often forced to spend hours begging on the streets for money.
Demba’s ultimate dream is to provide these vulnerable children with a safe, dedicated space for their education, safety, and well-being.
"My main idea, what I really want to do for these kids, is build a home. A place where they can get a proper education and healthy food for free. This is my goal. This is my dream." — Demba
By supporting this fundraiser, you aren't just helping us fix immediate infrastructure issues this autumn; you are helping us lay the very first bricks toward making Demba's dream of a safe sanctuary for these children a reality.
Our Long-Term Vision - While we are currently operating as a community initiative managed via The Old Inn, our long-term plan is to establish this project as its own independent registered charity. For complete transparency, 100% of the proceeds on this page are being held by The Old Inn while a dedicated independent bank account is being finalised.
Whether you live just down the road in the Highlands or are a visitor travelling the beautiful NC500, any support you are able to give would be hugely appreciated.
Jërëjëf (thank you) for your incredible kindness and support!
To read the full history and background of Demba's journey, please visit our feature page: https://theoldinn.net/thiaroye-sur-mer/