Gambia: The Women's Garden of Essau 2024 Ep 4

The “Women’s Garden of Essau” is a tribute to grandmothers. Here, women have developed a place where they till the soil and plant their gardens using community wells to feed their families. The gardens also boost their family incomes as the source of produce sold at local markets. The vegetables grown here are organic and delicious! The government supports women’s gardens in many places in the Gambia. The program provides training to women to enhance their farm skills. We enjoyed daily meals made with vegetables grown in Mama Fato’s garden. After crossing into Gambia from Senegal, we camped at the Kankeling Camp. Mama Fato, her son Ebrima, and the family welcomed us into their family compound at the mouth of the Atlantic and the Gambia River. Mama Fatu is an inspiration. As the mother of 11 and grandmother of many grandchildren, she is skilled at managing multiple issues constantly. She is Mandinka, the largest ethnic group in the Gambia. Kankeling Camp is a beautiful, very traditional campground. It does not offer typical tourist facilities. It provides an opportunity to experience the real Gambia. The camp is just east of the town of Barra, where the ferry to Banjul departs, but online maps were not helpful, so call ahead, and the family will meet and guide you to the campground. Thank you very much to Mama Fato, Ebrima, and the family. Or in mandinka "Abaraka Baake!
Visit Mama Fato at Kankelingcamp.wordpress.com
Music courtesy of www.epidemicsound