Editor: I am writing to share details of a recent volunteer trip I took to The Gambia through the Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise, which I thought might be of interest.
Our delegation included myself, my wife Christine, and 12 other residents mostly from Chatham-Kent.
The Gambia, located on the west coast of Africa, is the continent’s smallest mainland country and is known for its strong sense of community, rich culture, and significant development challenges, particularly in rural areas.
During the trip, we visited Kerr Demba Gambu School in the region of Kuntaur. While there, we met with local government officials, village elders, teachers and, most importantly, the school children themselves. These meetings provided valuable insight into the daily realities of the community and helped strengthen relationships that Rotary has been building in the region.
Our delegation brought with us, or shipped in, tangible supports for the school and village, including 30 water filtration units, 60 bicycles, 60 school desks, 160 backpacks, and a variety of teaching aids.
We also provided monetary support for the future drilling of a bore hole for a freshwater well. These resources will have a direct and lasting impact on access to clean drinking water, education, and daily life for students and families in the area.
We’ve already heard that enrolment in the school has increased significantly since our visit, which is amazing.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank the local businesses that helped sponsor and support this initiative: Winmar, Schinkels’ Gourmet Meats, and Krunal Patel from our local Shoppers Drug Mart stores. Their generosity played an important role in making this trip possible.
On a personal level, this volunteer experience was deeply meaningful. The connections we made with residents, local officials, and especially the children were genuine and lasting. It was a powerful reminder of how much impact can be made through direct engagement, listening, and showing up with both humility and purpose. It really struck me that, for so many reasons, we’re all truly privileged to call Chatham-Kent our home.
And, of course, for the sake of full transparency and to avoid any rumours, I can confirm that Christine and I paid entirely out of our own pocket for our involvement in the trip.
Darrin Canniff
Mayor
Municipality of Chatham-Kent
