Chairs for hardworking Gambian women farmers' meetings

This is a photo of the first 50 chairs, which were delivered to Hon Gibbi Mballow's constituency today, 23 November 2024. Thank you so very much to everyone who was involved in this project.

I will leave the appeal open for a while, in case anyone else would like to sponsor any chairs (and gardening hoes to help with the backbreaking work, if we have extra cash).

The message below explains what the 'chairs appeal' is about:

Many women in The Gambia, especially upriver, are subsistence farmers living very physically demanding lives. They have to travel long distances to meet as a community, but when they do so there is nowhere to sit except the ground.

The National Assembly Member (MP) for Lower Fulladu West is Hon Gibbi Mballow, and he has explained how important this simple need for chairs is to the women of his constituency. These women are due respect for the hard work they do day after day; chairs for meetings is one now urgent way to show this respect.

This blogpost 'FGM And Dignity – For Want Of A Chair?' explains more about the contexts of this need:

https://hilaryburrage.com/2024/09/27/fgm-and-dignity-for-want-of-a-chair-my-talk-to-the-world-bank-about-fgm-in-the-gambia/

The chairs cost around £10 each including transport from Banjul, and their purchase and delivery will be assured by one of Hon Gibbi's colleagues, a lawyer who is kindly volunteering his services.

Every penny we raise will be used for this fund to support the women farmers of upriver Gambia.

Thank you so much for your support,

Hilary