AmazonSmile Donations

AmazonSmile announced that we will not receive any disbursements for the second quarter of 2020 because we did not generate the $5 minimum disbursement amount. “Don't worry - we will hold your donation and add it to a disbursement in a future quarter,” they said.

If you use Amazon, use its companion smile.amazon.com and a portion of each Amazon purchase you make will go to our charity, The Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership -- when you designate us as your charity of choice.

Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership Scholarships

The pandemic has put our collection of funds on hold since The Gambia has closed all schools, except those in grade 12. “It's only the grade 12s who are now in exam which is ending on the 7th September, 2020,” informed Jabel Ceesay, Secretary of the Baobab Youth Development Association (BYDA), which administers the program for us in the West African country. “For the other levels, there is no schedule so far,” he continued.

Students in grade 12 are completing the 20 day West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). It’s a summative exam explained Ceesay, who was once named Teacher of the Year. “If they fail any subject, it's going to be recorded on their (graduation) certificate.”

WASSCE is made by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). It is given to students who live in the five English-speaking West African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.

In response to the school closures for the remaining students, The Gambia Teachers Union says it has worked vigorously on behalf of students unable to access a radio to participate in distance learning in a country where the poverty rate reaches 84 per cent. The Gambia has received funding from the UK-based Steve Sinnott Foundation and distributed 510 solar radios to students. It also secured many books through Book Aid – a leading international book donation and library development charity that gives 24 million people around the world access to books.

None of the 18 students our readers sponsor are in grade 12.

Clothes and Other Gently Used Goods

The two barrels of goods and other items we shipped earlier this year arrived as the pandemic started in the United States. We were waiting for its arrival before firming our plans to travel to Banjul. The goods are there, but with The Gambia being closed there are no buyers for the goods.  This too, is on hold, but ready to proceed.

We are still accepting flat shoes, baby clothes, thin-sized adult clothing, and other soft goods. BYDA sells them to earn money to pay their office rent and to pay for materials to complete their projects such as a much needed footbridge they recently refurbished before the rainy season started.

POH Library Project

The three library projects became more complicated as our most progressive of the three centers had to move. They are now looking for a new place to assemble their new rack and to stack their new books. The second project is on hold until the pandemic ends and the European Union upgrades the building they are using.

The European Union has been investing in some projects in The Gambia to encourage the youth to stay home and not travel to Europe the “backway” or illegal way. The third one has to find a place, as negotiations for a place failed. We are still accepting books.

African Diaspora History Exhibition

We are still working on the short biographies of 12 people to submit to National Centre for Arts and Culture to include in the Juffureh Slavery Museum. Once the 12 are accepted, we will proceed with raising funds for the artwork, display, and shipment.

About 25,000 people visit the Juffureh Slavery Museum in the Gambia ever year, mostly northern Europeans. This is the second exhibition developed by The Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership (POHGEP) for the (Gambia) National Centre for Arts and Culture. The West Africans in Early America exhibit was the first.

Under One Banner - COVID 19 Fundraiser
Though this program is not one of ours, it is run by some young Gambians including one of our readers, Nancy Jallow, who lives in the US and The Gambia. Her Facebook name is Fulanee Queen. We donated 21 Euro (about $25) and if you feel the need to perform international giving, please join me. Note: the GoFund Me is in Euro.

Jallow and her friends are Marina International School alumni, who now live around the world. Their Support Our Own Initiative provides needed goods to help Gambians during the COVID-19 crisis. Marina is one of the best elementary to high schools in The Gambia and the school has been helpful to the Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership.

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NOTE: For more information or answers to your questions, send us an email today.