Since my UK employers 'The Country Landowners Association' CLA gave me 3 months leave to continue our charitable works in Gambia, I have been as busy as a bee since arriving on 2nd November.

Foday our Gambian co worker and partner had all but completed the first building at Brufut, a charming two room bungalow with a kitchen, lavatory and shower with a large verhanda. Gambian houses are not large as much of the living can be done outside.

We expect mains water and electricity on the site sometime during 2002 but there are no guarantees so we have built a deep well which will provide all the compounds water and a uv filter will make the well water safe and pleasant to drink.

Next, our attention turned to Dardeema and the paperwork problems that have held the project up for 10 months. Finally the paperwork was sorted and the local family who asked GTS to help run Dardeema, asked if GTS would take over the restaurant as they really couldn't run it any more.

Dardeema opened to customers on the 1st December.

GTS now employs 14 Gambians as well as having May Rooney on the sponsorship side and Adam, managing Dardeema for at least its first year. Business has been slow but steady - serving breakfasts, cold drinks all day with snacksand main meals from around noon. The evening menu is extensive and has been popular with the visitors both locals and tourists returning day after day.

Our GTS office is now open though it still needs further work with displays and decorations, hopefully it will be fully functioning by the time I leave at the end of January.

New members have joined from the UK, Holland and we are receiving a lot of attention from tourists visiting Dardeema who have not seen the work of GTS before.

GTS and members are now supporting 22 children and 4 schools off the tourist routes.