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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

The founder of ETP, Linda, is blogging about responsible tourism on "The Green Girls":

Member of:

Community Excursions Folder

Location: Gambia, Various destinations.
Date: On request every day throughout the whole year.
Group size: From one to twelve people.
Accommodation: The excursions can be arranged from any accommodation providers.
Price: Contact us for more details.

Description:Are you going to The Gambia? Take a few days off the tourist track to experience small scale projects in The Gambia. Community Excursions Folder consist of six different excursions which can all be booked separately of each other, from one to six days full of local experiences. Learn how tourism can have an impact on a local community and how important it is for tourists to supports these projects. The excursions varies from “Catch your own lunch”, “Drumming and Dancing” lessons, Storytelling and Paper Recycling Skills Project, Solar Cooking, Tie & Dye and the women project BAFROW.
See the excursions below.

BAFROW
Local Community Involvement Experience

Visit The Foundation for Research on Women’s Health, Productivity and the Environment (BAFROW) - a Non-Governmental Organization that aims to complement The Gambia Government’s efforts by contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the people in the three main areas of health, empowerment and environment. A visit to BAFROW shows what impact such an initiative has on a community by empowering women and making certain information, clinics, education etc available.

Enjoy a guided tour around BAFROW Model Village and learn about the activities and programs BAFROW is offering; from the clinic, local bakery to the library. This successful project is now a model village for other places in The Gambia. Meet the local women and see them in action while they are working. You will get the chance to participate in one of the activities. Learn how they make soap,
bake bread, process food etc.

09:00 Pick up at your hotel.
10:00 Arrival BAFROW Model Village and have a brief information about BAFROW.
10:30 Guided tour around the property by one of the founders.
11:30 Join the women in their activities at BAFROW (bread baking using a local oven, peanut roasting, sewing, etc….
13:00 Refreshment with fresh local juices and some home made snacks.
13:30 End of activity and return to your hotel.

BEREFET CULTURAL CAMP
Drumming and Dancing with the Locals

Berefet Cultural Camp is famous for its drumming and dancing lessons. Here you have the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn how to play the drums as well as the different traditional dances! Berefet Cultural Camp is beautifully located by the river Gambia. This camp is totally run by the nearby local community. Here you can experience the everyday life in The Gambia, enjoy the forest nature with many Baobab trees or the view of the river.

Dancing and drumming classes are led by renowned local artists. This experience will take you to a world full of rhythm and traditional local music. The day will end with a cultural performance where you can join the locals and show what you learned during the day.

09:00 Pick up at your hotel.
10:00 Arrive Berefet Cultural Camp and get an introduction to the camp.
10:30 Tour of the camp and the nearby village.
12:00 Your introduction drumming or dancing lesson.
13:00 Local lunch with fresh vegetables from the village.
14:00 Lessons continue.
15:00 Culture performance with interaction of host and guest.
16:00 End of the excursion and drive back to your hotel.

LAMIN FISH FARM
“Catch Your Own Fish for Lunch!”

The excursion gives you the opportunity to select your own vegetables in the Women’s Garden in Lamin Village and catch your own fish for lunch at Lamin Fish Farm!

This trip will give you a local experience starting in Lamin Village where you will meet the women farmers. Listen to the history about the village and get the opportunity to interact with the women and select your vegetables for lunch. At Lamin Fish Farm you are guaranteed to catch a fish in the sport fishing pond! While lunch is being prepared you will have a tour of the farm and learn more about the place.

08:30 Pick up at your hotel.
09.30 Lamin Village and Women’s’ Garden to buy vegetables for your lunch and hear more about Lamin Village and the farmers.
10.30 Arrival at Lamin Fish Farm and Responsible Fishing where you will catch your own fish for lunch.
11.30 Guided aquaculture tour of the farm and hear how it all started.
12.30 Lunch with your catch of the day. A variety of local dishes.
14.00 Relaxation with soft kora music while you enjoy your traditional Ataya tea.
15.00 End of the excursion and drive back to your hotel.

SOLAR PROJECT TILOO
A Real Solar Cooking Experience!

“Cook with the power of the sun – save money and fire wood!”
Enjoy a real solar cooking and baking experience and at the same time see how solar energy is working in practice and learn how it is benefiting the local communities.

During your experience you will learn and participate making your own lunch using a solar cooker. Included in your experience is a visit to one of the schools where the project supports educational programs on solar energy and its environmental benefits. The project is involved in solar cooking, solar baking and solar fruit drying. When you take part in this excursion you support the local projects they are supporting.

09:00 Pick up at your hotel.
09:30 Get an introduction to the project while you are enjoying a local wonjo juice and solar baked cake.
10:00 Prepare your lunch using a solar cooker. While your lunch is cooking visit one of the schools that the project support.
13:00 Enjoy your own solar cooked lunch in the “Sunshine Restaurant”.
14:30 End of experience and return to your hotel.

STORYTELLING and PAPER RECYCLING SKILLS PROJECT
“Cultural Encounters”

This is a fantastic combination of two projects that include the traditional Gambian storytelling and protecting the environment while making your own recycled paper.

Story Telling (10:00 – 11:00)
After pick up at your hotel you will arrive at ASSET Information Centre, Cultural Encounters, where you will be welcome with a refreshing drink and a delicious locally made coos pancake. After a brief introduction of ASSET, you will be told stories on Gambian culture and history by renowned historians and Jallies in the Gambia. The one hour programme will consist of ½ hour story telling, 10 minutes soft kora break and the final 20 minutes for questions and answers.

Paper Recycling Skills Project (11:30 – 13:00)
Paper Recycling Skills Project is located in Fajikunda. This local charity scheme was set up to recycle waste paper and other scrap materials to produce beautifully handcrafted gifts. Established in 2001 the Paper Recycling Skills Project has used all profits generated to distribute free exercise books to school children all over The Gambia. Enjoy their workshop and try your hand at pounding paper with a mortar and pestle, make a sheet of handmade paper or watch the book binder assemble a book.

TIE & DYE EXPERIENCE

A fantastic opportunity to create your own fabric and design using natural products and tie & dye methods. A local artist will help you to master the technique as well as helping you to understand all about the origin of tie & dye. A tailor will be on hand to take your measurements and bring your garments to life if you choose to purchase them. The choice of colour and design is entirely up to you, a catalogue of traditional Gambian outfits will be available to help you make your choice.

The dyed material needs a couple of days to dry, and then the tailor hand makes your chosen outfits. Before you leave you will have an opportunity to take part in a fashion show wearing your new African clothes complete with traditional head tie. On the night of the fashion show, selected local craft people will be invited to showcase their locally made products.

0930 Tie and dye lesson from a local artist
1030 Select and dye your own material with the help of a local artist. A tailor will be there to take measurements for those participants wanting to have their outfits made up. You will then hang your art work under the sun to dry in the hotel yard
1130 End of tie & dye session

The Fashion Show
Three days later, you will be invited to take part in a fashion show in the hotel where you can show off your traditionally made Gambian outfit