BRILLIANT NEWS on Funding for Pateh Jawo

A couple arrived at the GTS restaurant in mid November 2003 - David & Carol Owens. Carol a midwife in the UK was interested in Pateh's case and the couple have offered to provide the funding for Pateh's course and will set up a standing order for £35 a month - raising the £420 annual fees needed for Pateh to attend the University of Gambia - Medical Faculty from September 2004.

GTS is now only looking for £80 to fund his accommodation, the rest of Pateh's needs will be covered by the GTS central charity fund.

Pateh is a charming but determined young man, his situation before his parents died looked very hopeful, the family had the funds to send Pateh to one of Gambia's most successful schools - NUSRAT.

Suddenly, in a tragic twist of fate, Pateh was left with no one to support him - many people would have found it hard to cope, GTS paid for his accommodation, education, books and exam fees - a teacher at Nusrat befriended him and provided accommodation for him during his crucial last year.

Last summer Pateh took his exams and achieved CREDITS in 6 of his 8 examination subjects.

His dream is to become a doctor, but the course costs are £500 a year and his teacher has been transferred to a school in Gunjur - so Pateh will need accommodation and support for the seven years of his University course in Gambia.

The prospect of supporting Pateh through to his graduation as a doctor is something we have to do, especially as he wants to stay in Gambia and put back into the culture and community who have supported him through the last few difficult years.

I explained to Pateh that GTS did not have the funding for this year and so he has enrolled as a voluntary nurse for the year - which he feels will be good experience. In the mean time GTS is asking for specific contributions to putting Pateh through his medical course.

Costs of this sort may come from just one benefactor but we are expecting a fund to grow from small contributions from many people who will be willing to help the Gambia via this young man's education.

If you can help with any of the additional funding still needed, please contact GTS, any surplus funding will start the fund for Ebou Jarju (the young man with the twist foot) to follow in Pateh's footsteps.

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