Senegambiagroup

In 2003, Ellen en Gerrit met the waiter Boubacar Diallo in a restaurant where they often went for diner. He is Senegalese but, as so many; he came to the Gambia to find work. He has a dream. He is dreaming of livestock farming as his father has been in earlier days. To settle his family with his two children, to be able use the farm land that is his property is. In 2005, he begins to grow trees. This is a subsidised project of the Senegalese Government to deforestation. To Ellen's horror she saw that only Eucalyptus trees are planted. Eucalyptus have a straight strain, what is very useful for fence- and phone posts, but it needs an awful lot of water to be able to grow. How is it possible that such projects are still in process? In the course of the years, Bouba and Ellen made plans, rejected them, thought of new issues and evaluated plans again until it has become a real solid project plan now. There will be a fenced plot of land to keep 50 chickens. Chicken can grow quick and be sold fast, so there will be a fast small income. But there will be three calves purchased which, if they are mature, one will be sold and the others will grow calves. Also is considered the food that will have to be grown in the wet season to be able to feed the cattle during the dry season. Now Bouba will get a loan from Gamrupa so he can start in the coming month with his farm. This loan is a gift of a foundation (which sells second-hand goods) in the Netherlands. Bouba will have to pay back this loan though he may start to pay off the debt after three year. That makes it steadier to get started. We believe in this way it will be a contribution to the whole village because he will share his knowledge with young people, teaching them how to manage a small farm like his farm and after the practical learning time, give them the opportunity to start their own farm. This is a long-term project in this way.