Gambia 2014 Pre-Expedition Briefing 19 days to go! All that hard work over the last 18 months. There is still some hard work to do when we get there but lots of things to see and fun to have. Most importantly we need a safe trip! So listen up to IT’S NEARLY HERE! 11 Leaders 9 Networkers 21 explorers 41 in total PARTICIPANTS Friday 25th July Southend meet at White Horse Pub at 0900hrs Hornchurch meet at Upminster Methodist Church at 1000hrs Flight leaves Gatwick at 15.15hrs – bring money for lunch at the airport. Saturday 9th August - overnight from Friday 8th – lands 04.45hrs, coach back to Upminster / Southend – approximately 07.30-08.30hrs. DATES / TRAVEL Friday 25th – land 20.40hrs – transfer to Senegambia Hotel (coast) – 1 night Saturday – get vehicles, get equipment, water, fuel - drive to Basse Saturday 26th to Sunday 3rd August –Basse Hotel – 9 nights Sunday 27th – Final plans and equipment for projects, visit sites, meet dignitaries. Mon-Sun - Education, Health Centre, Building, Scout Skills projects Sunday 3rd – farewell campfire with Basse Scouts Monday drive to Soma (Scott and Nick to airport) Monday 4th August - Scout B&B in Soma – 1 night Tuesday drive to coast Tuesday 5th August to Thursday 7th August – Senegambia Hotel – 3 nights. Thursday river cruise Friday evening transfer to airport TIMETABLE WHERE AGAIN? Vehicles – 2 x 14 seaters with roof rack, 1 x 8 seater, 1 x 7 seater. Accommodation in Basse & Soma (Kairo Konko Scout Centre) ?River cruise back at coast WHAT’S BOOKED? School – children and teachers Scouting skills – Scouts and Leaders Hospital – Facilities (Networkers) Building – Sun-shelter – training room PROJECTS Southend have hit their fundraising (£4500) and grant targets (£2250 and made £2000 for buy-a-brick. Hornchurch have made fundraising (£16000) but not Grant target (£8000 – currently £2600 short), also have made £2000 for buy-a-brick. Hornchurch participants who have not applied for a grant need to pay £50 extra, participants who have not done individual fundraising need to pay £50 extra (so £100 for those who have no grant and no individual fundraising. FUNDRAISING Hierachial – Village Chief - Alkalo Families – live in compounds Male led Time to talk! Love photographs Currency - Dalasi GAMBIAN CULTURE Moderate Islamist - pray 5 x day. Friday prayers most important Ramadan – fasting for 6 weeks – Eid Mubarak on Tuesday 29th July. 5-10% Christian RELIGION Mandinka 42% Fula 18% Wolof 16% Jola 10% Serahule 9% Multi party democracy since 1965 Only 2 presidents – this one since 1994 Left Commonwealth 2013 TRIBAL GROUPINGS Common for men to hold hands as they walk down the street or as they show you around their house! Prolonged hand shaking – not left hand! Lack of public displays of affection. Generally stay covered up – OK in tourist areas. HAND HOLDING / CLOTHING They will use English in a slightly different fashion – used to the words but not phrases. May not maintain eye contact. Tsssss! Toubab! PHRASES Homosexuality – illegal! Not acknowledged as even existing by older members of society. FGM – female genital mutilation (80%) Polygamy CONTENTIOUS ISSUES We will be very visible in the Gambia – we will representing the UK, Scouting as well as our districts and Groups. Therefore behaviour must be excellent at all times. We must be patient and humble in someone else’s country. There will be sometime to’chill out’! When we travel to airport and for flights we will wear our Gambia polo shirts and UK scarves. When we travel long distances in Gambia we will wear out Scout uniform shirts and UK scarves – this will help us look smart and help us through security checks. The police and army will not respect us just because we are British – they will respect us if we are polite and respectful. Army checkpoints are to stop drug smuggling – they probably won’t search us but be prepared to open out all your bags. UK AMBASSADORS Copies to pick up today – previously circulated. We are asking all participants to buy a compass and bring it in their bag to give to a Gambian Scout as part of the Scouting skills project. Up to £150 personal spending money – can change up on arrival. Don’t forget personal medications. Bring anti-malarials and everyone to bring 12-24 tablets of Loperamide. Try to share chargers for electronic devices – UK plugs are ok (sockets vary but most UK style). Sleeping bag cotton liner Put penknife in main bag. Toiletries in main bag (try to get travel toiletries where possible) KIT LIST Soft bags only – rucsac or holdall type. Locked with a small lock – either combination or key. Labelled please. No more than 18 kilos (weight limit is 20 kilos but we need some spare for shared luggage like first aid / emergency medical kit. If you are wearing hike boots then wear onto plane. LUGGAGE Linda Thorogood is our Home Contact She is Deputy District Commissioner for Hornchurch. She will have a copy of the participant forms, timetable, hotel details, contact details and a copy of passports. If you need to contact us please go through Linda and viceversa we will contact you through Linda if required. Adam will circulate her contact details via e-mail. We will update the website with pictures and blog everyday where internet connection allows so check www.ghisp.org.uk HOME CONTACT Keep money safe – use safes in hotel rooms. Use wallet with security cord or money belt. In the tourist areas there will be ‘bumsters’ who may try to scam you. You can barter for souvenirs. Non-tourist areas like Basse will be slightly safer. However take care who you give your details like home address and e-mail too – the Gambians will think they have made a friend for life! MONEY SAFETY The biggest health risk is malaria – carried by anopheles species of mosquito, is a protozoan – lives in red blood cells, feel unwell when parasite level reaches 0.1% 15-20 returning travellers die from malaria each year in UK. 4 ways to prevent : 1. Take anti-malarial tablets – daily at breakfast – 2 days before we go and 7 days after return. 2. Use insect repellent – apply about 5pm each day. 3. Wear long trousers and long sleeves if possible in the evening. 4. Mosquito nets – we will all take although it is likely the hotel rooms may already have them fitted. If you are unwell with a fever within 3 months of returning then you should be checked for malaria. There are different types of malaria parasite – some can take longer to develop. MALARIA EBOLA Dengue fever / yellow fever– also via mosquito bites. Hepatitis A – we should be covered. Typhoid – immunisation about 70% effective. INFECTIOUS DISEASE It is likely no matter how careful we are that most people will get some diarrhoea. Important to tell Adam when you have it – Loperamide will usually control it. Avoid local water – wash teeth with bottled water, avoid ice. Good handwashing and alcohol gel washes. Mainly will be –’tropical sprue’. Important to avoid dehydration. GASTROENTERITIS Hot weather Diarrhoea Access to bottled water All factors in causing dehydration. Look at colour of urine! Dark urine - dehydration. Light or clear urine – well hydrated. Rehydration salts (dioralyte) maybe required. DEHYDRATION Rabies is endemic in Gambia. Rabies is zoonotic viral infection. Dogs, monkeys, bats most likely source. Please avoid approaching animals even if they seem friendly. Avoiding animal bites is the key to avoiding rabies. Treatment would mean immediate transfer to Banjul and back to UK in the event of a bite. Long incubation phase, currently worldwide shortage of vaccines. RABIES Relatively low rates of HIV in Gambia – 3-5%. Hepatitis B – higher – 15-20% Hepatitis C – 5-10% Only a risk through exposure to blood or other bodily fluids. Use gloves in health centre or for first aid. Avoid sexual contact. Some people have full hepatitis B cover. HEP B / HEP C / HIV There are poisonous insects and other animals in the Gambia. Check shoes when putting on. Otherwise avoid touching or approaching anything! Ask a local if you are interested in knowing if they are safe or not. Feet are the most risk areas so wear shoes or boots at all times, unless at the hotel. SNAKES / SPIDERS / SCORPIONS Sunblock Avoiding the midday sun – rest period from 1-3pm. Care with neck and shoulders. Most care at hotel /at coast. Average daytime temp 30deg, nighttime 23deg. Will be more humid in Basse compared to coast. Start of rainy season so episodes of heavy rain are possible. AVOIDING SUNBURN Passport / yellow fever certificate Antimalarials Uniform and scarf This should be an amazing experience – take some time to take it all in if you can – you may remember smells and sounds of Africa more than you remember the images. Listen and talk to the locals – find out how they live everyday – show some interest in them and they will treat you with great warmth. Let a leader know if you are unhappy about anything – there will be a few tough days as it’s not all sightseeing – tell a friend, tell a leader, tell someone! DON’T FORGET Pick up Mosquito nets, UK scarf and UK badge 15 people to get anti-malarials (stock delayed) – to start 2 days before departure. Sign permission forms (under 18 – parents to sign). TO SORT TODAY