Newsletter
SeaGam Welcomes Everyone
We would like to welcome you to the inaugural issue of SeaGam Quarterly, a newsletter designed to keep you informed about the people, and ongoing events and opportunities that are at the heart of the Seattle-Gambia Association (SGA). The SeaGam Quarterly, funded and financed by SGA is intended to convey the excitement of participating directly in the volunteering activities in the SGA organization.
In these pages, we invite you to meet the members of the SGA, find out how our activities are progressing, and even help us improve the awareness of current and future programs.
We hope you will share SGA activities with your family and friends, neighbors, and even other organizations to which you belong.
At SGA, we are committed to informing our development partners, members and our community fully about the essential work in which SGA is engaged. We hope that SGA Quarterly will broaden the view for all of us.
SGA BACK TO WHERE IT BELONGS BEST: Community
The lifeblood of an association depends on the people--members of the community- who donate, volunteer, and serve the association. Recognizing this, SGA first launched “give-back” community projects in 1997 with the aim of mobilizing Gambians and friends of the Gambia to join the SGA. And ten years later, the facts are these: In the Gambia, we have provided the largest health care and scholarship programs ever to be done by any Gambian association in the continental United States. In partnership with other agencies, SGA was also able to fully equip a computer learning center at St. Theresa’s Middle school, provide funding for health education on HIV AIDS, supply medical equipment worth over $200,000 to Bansang and the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospitals, respectively. And at the moment, plans are under way to ship another consignment of beds and medical equipment to Bansang Hospital’s infant ward. In essence, SGA continues to have its footprint in every region of the Gambia. In Seattle Area, from Food banks for the homeless to the Lake City Community Council, members of SGA volunteer with local organizations and municipalities to make our environment better. In the past, SGA had also created some sort of a revolving loan scheme for members in and outside the association at virtually no interest.
Despite all these progressive projects, SGA membership morale has hit its all-time low, and discontent among general membership is rising, even before the merger with the Social Group.
Perhaps association’s current policies of spending at will, or focusing too much on the Gambia isn't the answer at a time when our members here are experiencing other issues that need to be addressed sooner rather than later. But one thing is clear. Gambian community in Seattle continues to grow steadily with people of different ages and aspirations; and it would not be too long before we would need some sort of an organized system that can bring us together to share our common values, speak on our behalf in times of peace or crisis, and help us interface, learn and respect other cultures that are different from our own. It is on this basis that we think the role of SGA, an organization that supports and counts on Gambians more than anyone else, is so crucial than ever before. The donors of SGA also need to know that their money is being spent wisely on issues that are generally acceptable. SGA should also develop community-friendly means of demonstrating to stakeholders that they're getting their money's worth.
And yet it is not clear to us that our current policies would give us this desirable outcome many are yearning for. But the proposed outreach program, written in consultation with others, may have the virtue of defining a sensible goal for achieving SGA‘s vision: to make SGA the authoritative voice of Gambians living in Seattle, while at the same time contributing towards the social and economic development of our community.
That's why it's also useful that SGA leadership should consider the plan we are outlining in this newsletter.
The primary goals of this outreach program will be to enhance our community’s interest in skill development (including sports) and to provide support in childcare & education in the Seattle Area by using our unique resources available. We believe individuals, communities, local and state government and the SGA’s education committee can work together as partners in providing opportunities for all young Gambians in Washington State.
A Model Community-Based Program-The initial phase of this proposed SGA outreach program will begin as a model community-based program in the Gambian community within the Seattle Metropolitan Area. Presently, the focus of the program should be narrowed down to the educational skills needed for our society. For instance, we may begin by enrolling young kids of Gambian parents into various training programs likes soccer, basketball and volleyball etc. And from this program, SGA can charge fees that are relatively low compared to other institutions offering similar services. Already results have emerged, which show that we should be able to recruit at least 50 potential customers generating revenue that would enable us to hire a coach, assistant coach, and 1-2 other support staff who can be utilized to transport kids from their homes to the field and back to their parents. Also, the program’s revenue can eventually be used to initiate a self sustaining “pay tutoring” center for our community--equipped with modern computer games, math and science materials. And if implemented as planned, our estimates further indicate that, by July 2008, we should be able to hire at least 3-5 more high school graduates to tutor at this tutoring center with a pay rate higher than the market rate. And yet, we would not deviate from our mission statement; in fact, it will lead us faster and better than the pace we are currently making. These activities will also enable us to appeal to a broader spectrum of the Gambian community than ever before. By two year from now, these activities can increase and expand upon the awareness of the program beyond our Gambian circles. The childcare services can emphasize early childhood education and extra-curricular activities. Opportunities to participate in this program can also expand SGA's access to some of the potential donors for other projects to come. Specific strategies can be laid down to increase the number of underrepresented segment of the targeted population.
To address such distinct issues, the SGA must concentrate on two key areas: (1) Childcare & education (2) Community involvement. In partnership with local institutions, the SGA organization can offer: Hands-on programs for pre-college students; Unique job opportunities for members of our community; Work-based learning opportunities for high school and technical college students; and various workshops, tutoring programs and demonstrations that promote science, mathematics, engineering and technology etc.
By working more closely with our community to identify culturally and socially sensitive implementation strategies, SGA hopes to increase its revenue and community activities both here and in the Gambia.
UNITY FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY:
The Seattle Gambian association and the Gambia Social and Cultural Committee wish to announce the unconditional merger of the two groups effective immediately. The announcement came after representatives of the two groups conducted series of meetings to shape a new and stronger direction for our growing Gambian community.
As a testimony, these two groups for the past several years have dedicated themselves tirelessly in mobilizing the Gambian community in the areas of both entertainment and family emergencies in Seattle and its surroundings.
Most notably, the two groups have been known to be the pioneers of such widely celebrated events like the famous July 4th, celebration; the Performance of Jaliba Kuyateh in Seattle, Gambia’s Independent celebration, New Year and Tobaski celebration, and the shipment of medical equipment like beds and mattresses to impoverish hospitals in the Gambia.
As a result of these highly organized and publicized occasions, the Gambian community in Seattle has become one of the most known and appreciated local Gambian communities throughout the United States and Europe. Seattle was an unknown destination to many Gambians before our people started organizing ourselves in promoting our culture and unity amongst our people especially our young men and women.
In continuing the bonding of a strong growing Gambian community, we see the urgent need for a stronger unity and dedication in building a sound community where, we will not only promote harmony amongst our people, but also build a society where our children can be brought up to take full advantage of both our local culture and our newly adopted culture in the United States.
The task of building a stronger; informed, educated, and economically successful community is an enormous task that requires lot of sacrifice and contribution from all members of the community. Few individuals or group of people cannot shoulder the challenges that come with maintaining such progressive community.
Together, we can build a stronger community worthy of emulation across the United States and the World. To achieve such short and long term goals of a UNITED PROGRESSIVE GAMBIAN COMMUNITY in Seattle, we would set our New Year’s resolutions to record great achievements in the following areas of growing concern:
The New United (Seattle Gambia Association) will seek to educate members of our community in immigration matters and provide access to proper confidential legal counseling services to anyone who may need it.
The association will aim to prepare morally and financially to response timely and adequately to all deaths an death related emergencies in our community
It would be a priority for the association to purchase a Cultural Service Center for our community activities including; religious, cultural education for our children, program hosting for our family occasions, which our women will highly appreciate.
Finally the New United Association will continue to reach out to our people in the form of collecting donations of medical supplies, books, computers, and many valuable much needed resources for shipment to the Gambia whenever feasible.
Furthermore, the general audiences are reminded that while the above-mentioned services will be accessible to all members of the community, it takes time and sacrifice to mobilize such resources for effective delivery. It is therefore crucial that all members of the community participated fully in any form say perform to help build this community oriented network program for all of us.
On a final note, we wish to inform the general audience that there will be a new nomination of candidates to be followed by an election of officials who will take over the day to day governing affairs of the New United Association. This nomination will be announced at a later date.
Please make sure that you all register at the door with your personal information for easy correspondence to all members of the community. Please stay tune for more exciting information and a new direction for our community. Together we can make it happen.
Happy New Year to all of you and your families
Gambian Community Starts its Own Dara (Religious Study) for our Kids
We have started a Gambian Islamic cultural program for the kids about two months ago and it is really going well. Both parents and Kids like the formation of such thing in our community. We currently have Ebrima Dibba, Bakary jarju and Alagie Ceesay as our volunteer to help and educate the kid about the basic fundamental of being a good Muslim. I personal think that our community needs such for our kids. I remember when I was young my parent put me through this local Islamic way of understanding and become a good Muslim. I think it is an
obligation on any good Muslim to educate your kids about your religion and how to become good future leaders of our community.
The location of the program center is at lake city community center on 12531 28 Ave NE Seattle WA.98125. We are open on every Saturdays from
1pm to 5pm. Our goal is to add more days and make this a reality for the better of our kids.
We are appealing to all parents and concerned Gambian and non Gambian to support this great endeavor for a success for our future community leaders. We are taking donations to pay for the rental and other expenses.
For more information contact Mr. Saidy Ceesay 206 963-2075 or Ebrima
Dibba 206 250-3822.
THE BIRTH OF JULY 4TH IN SEATTLE
The notion of July 4th celebration was born in the spring of 2003.
ALAGIE MAMMA JALLOW, MODOU FABURAY, ALAGIE MBALLOW AND BABA KRUBALLY after
watching a soccer game at Fort Dent in Tukwila, decided that the Gambian
community should organize a gathering like that and invite people from other
countries to play soccer and the best time to do it would be The 4th of July.
Since we have a large community of Gambians, there is no need to fly to ATLANTA
for 4th of July. A meeting was called and it was decided that it
will take place annually from here on. The 1st year was overwhelmingly
successful. Gambians from all walks of life participated in all the programs
and activities. The following years were equally successful. It has been so
successful that we do now get people from other states coming to celebrate
July 4th with us.
People from TEXAS, OHIO, KANSAS AND the overwhelming participation of people
from VANCOUVER, WA AND PORTLAND, OREGON. I would not be doing justice if I don't
mention the hard work and dedication of the
members and executive committee of the SEATTLE-GAMBIA SOCIAL COMMITTEE.
They have sacrificed their valuable time, spent their own money and put
their utmost effort in making these celebrations a dream come true. Their
main aim was to bring together Gambians, foster better understanding amongst
them, promote friendship and see how best we can all assist in improving the
quality of Gambian lives in Seattle. We have people who have been donating
and sponsoring some of these celebrations. We realized the fundraising
activities like car wash and commercial dances were not enough to fund these
programs and so individual and business sponsorship have helped us greatly.
The women participation in the success of the celebrations cannot be
forgotten. Their effort and behind the scene sacrifice cannot be put in
words. We say a big Thanks to them. There is a new era of UNITY AND ONENESS
in the Gambian community and the 2007 celebration is being organized and
celebrated by the SEATTLE-GAMBIA ASSOCIATION and the SEATTLE-GAMBIA SOCIAL
COMMITTEE. It will be remembered as the year we set aside our differences
and work for the interest of all Gambians and we are seeking support and
blessings from all Gambians and their families.
Thanks. Alagie Mamma Jallow.