After providing the funding to help in Gambia since 1997, GTS has come across many of the problems and enjoyed many of the advantages of working in this beautiful little country.

Please email me your situations either business or personal and we will attempt to provide constructive comments and advice.

All names and identities will be removed, as this is not a rogues or heroes gallery. If you want to make a public statement use the Bantaba Forum. BUT experiences both good and bad are useful for others who may have had no experience of dealings with people from such a different culture.

I personally, have found the experience enriching in many ways, but doing anything to help is hampered by what I think is a state of mind brought about over 6 or so generations of people who have experienced slavery, colonialisation, freedom and the ensuing struggle to relearn how to be free and escape from relative poverty.

Meeting 'rich' westerners is often the dream, but like all dreams, the reality can spoil the magic for the all the people involved, This meeting is always the starting point for the relationship - how it turns out, depends on many things. I hope we can explore some of them.