PAGEANT - "Education is the future"
Carole Odumo visits Gambian Scouts
Scouting in The Gambia
The Gambia Scout Association was established in 1921. It has over 19,000 members, both boys and girls as well as adult leaders. Kombo was an ancient kingdom within The Gambia, which gives its name to four modern administrative districts. The Kombo districts cover almost all of western coast of The Gambia south of the capital Banjul.
There are numerous scout groups within these districts and one of these is the 2nd Kombo Scout Group, based in New Jeshwang, a suburb of Serrekunda. The group leader is Mohammad Camera. He has provided us with these photos of the groups activities.
Links to UK Scouts
Scouting is international and links between Scout Groups around the world are encouraged. Many UK Scout Groups have links with Scouts in The Gambia. Pageant member Carole Odumo lives in Fetcham near Leatherhead, and she has helped to establish a link between the 1st Fetcham Scout Group and the 2nd Kombo Scout Group. The photos below show scout badges and other things donated by the leader of 1st Fetcham Scout Group and other local people. Carole then packed and shipped these to The Gambia.
Carole's Visit
Carole visited the 2nd Kombo Scout Group in January 2020. Here is her account:
"During my recent visit to The Gambia I was invited to meet some members of the 2nd Kombo Scout Group who meet at New Jeshwang primary school. Wandifa and Abdoulie collected me from my hotel and we drove along the busy streets to New Jeshwang."
"I first met Mohammad Camera, the group leader, in November 2018 at the Remembrance Day Service at the
Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Fajara. With the help of my local scout group 1st Fetcham scouts,
I have been helping with providing scout badges and scouting clothing which is hard for them to obtain
in The Gambia."
(Mohammad Camera is the tall man in blue shirt with a purple and white scout neckerchief)
"A small group of scouts and leaders attended the meeting and welcomed me with singing and dancing (numbers were small as the day of the meeting had to be changed). Mohammad explained that they try to help the local community and have painted the school buildings which they use for their meetings. I was able to present them with some more badges which were received with thanks and I hope to continue to support this group where possible. Any donations of scouting clothing or equipment, including tents would be greatly appreciated."
