The Bakau Environmental Project update February 2020

Visit to the Gambia 

Preston Ayres, Chris Hayter, Andrew Faraday and I have just returned from visiting Bakau Project in The Gambia that we instigated in 2016.

The ‘Holiday’ was punctuated by meetings with Fajara Rotary Club and local dignitaries as well as the PM for the project and visits to the works. We discussed the ways in which the project can be completed by making small alterations and starting an education and enforcement program run by the local community to ensure the sustainability of the project.

The Canal, which was the main thrust of the project, was almost complete before the rains came in July 2019 but sufficiently finished to take the water away from the village. However, as the budget had been spent, we were looking at the ways to fully finish what had been started and how the canal will be maintained.

Bakau Medical Centre told us that the incidents of malaria had dropped by 74% in the second half of 2019 compared with the second half of 2018. An overwhelming result.

Our other halves also visited the local school, run by ‘Oasis Project’. Great fun was had by all as we worked in the school and attended the 6^th anniversary party for the Starlight School.

MKGU Rotary Club meets every Thursday and if you would like to know more about the club please write to mike@coactionmanagement.co.uk or visit the website http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1774