By Lamin Cham
The Diaspora Club, an organization of Gambians in US and Europe, with a membership of about 2000, has lined up a series of mainly sports events to raise fund to help the Gambia’s health care system.
According to Michael Nicol one of the coordinators already on the ground, the programmes are designed such that by this festive period the Club intends to bring all its 2000 diaspora members.
“Already a lot us have arrived by the time the programs peak, a lot more would have been in town. This is the biggest presence of Gambian diaporans at any given time in the country,” said Nicol.
The first among the programmes is a grueling Charity football match between teams from the diapora and home teams from Banjul and the Kombos. These matches will be played along side a family fun party, a purely charitable event at the Manjai Park on December 16. “It is important that all Gambians come to this event not only to meet people they may not have seen in decades but also to take part in the fund raising drive to support the main hospital EFSTH,” Nicol said. He said there will also be Rounders to be played among the diasporans and the home based teams.
The next major event will be a Red Carpet Gala Dinner which will feature Momo Jeng, Bai Babu, Ablie Mbye, and other artists on December 31 as well as a Sabarr and Picnic at the Penchami Hall. There too a new year’s day concert will feature the same artists and more at a concert on January 1. A farewell Sabarr will also be staged at the Manjai park on January 3.
The Diaspora Club is the brainchild of Haddy Lowe immensely supported by the likes of Haddy Panneh and Anna Camara and what started as a small initiative has now attracted 2000 members across nine nations. “We look forward to meeting all Gambians at these fun events to support the Diaspora Club to make a change to the Gambia’s Health Care System, under the auspices of the Minister of Health and social welfare,” Nicol concluded.
