
Today I've finished my 4th presentation about our WFP fieldtrip to the Gambia.
Both the sessions in Houten and at Schiphol Rijk I received heartwarming reactions, which confirms what I already knew.
I can still us see off the plane when we arrived, we wondered what we would all live like experiences during this week. While waiting for our luggage, a man came to me and he wonder if this was my first trip to Gambia, I said yes and he said his African accent "welcome in The Gambia, once you set foot in Gambia Never again you will be able to leave, your soul will always be here, "I think he is right, one week I went back home and I'm still there in Gambia.
Before the departure I promised you all that I would keep you posted via this blog about my experiences in The Gambia. Obviously I failed to do so, there are several reasons why I didn’t blog in The Gambia, the internet connection was from time to time quite dodgy, the day program was fairly busy, but the main reason was the intensity of the trip, not that I’m complaining, but rather working on my blog in the evening I choose to talk to my fellow field trippers or the amazing crew of The Roc Height Lodge, like Jerry, Landing, Marco, Lani or Ballad.
All is said by my fellow fieldtrippers...
An amazing time we had in The Gambia
I’m aware this may sound like an Academy Award acceptance speech, but I would like to thank a couple of people (don’t worry I won’t get too religious, sentimental, etc), in random order:
What to expect, what to prepare, what.... So many questions floating through my head before the big departure to The Gambia. How was I to know that this country was going to give me a once in a lifetime experience on so much levels.
Arriving at the airport it was allready clear to me that my feelings were simular to those of my fellow travellers. We talked about our expectations, our concerns and so much more. No doubt, this great bunch of people were about to become friends for life.
Meet the team from TNT Benelux
When I first met the team, they were quiet just talking among themselves and looked excited, a little worried and unsure of what they will see when they arrived into Africa. Most have never been to Africa thus I could clearly understand their feelings as it was once mine too. My role is to facilitate the whole trip and ensure that the group goes through it safely and with a very enriching experience.
After a week in The Gambia, and be back home I realise what an impressive fieldtrip it was. We had a warm welcome by the WFP and the Gambian people. We had several meetings, so we know how the UN/WFP organisation works. We visited the Sea Port, Customs, Clearing and forwarding agents, transporters and the warehouse. We got a general idea of the supply chain. Also we visited two schools, an urban and an rural school, these schools received rice from WFP. The children are so lovely and give us an warm welcome, they were so happy that we visited their school.
We had a wonderful time in the Gambia but I was very happy to see my family again! I hope that I can convince all of you that the WFP is really doing a great job in the Gambia. I'll never forget the warmth of the gambian people, the smile on the faces of the gambian children in the schools and their endless gratitude towards the WFP and TNT Express. The sound of their voices seemed like music to the ear...