I'm a community musician who specialises in West African percussion. In the 20= years I've been traveling to the Gambia to study I've made many friends and in 2013 I co-produded a CD over there and that strengthened some of the friendships. Long story short I've been 'helping' various people for quite a while. I am in some considerable financial difficulty at the moment and so I'm asking for help to continue this.

I particularly want to fundraise for 2 things.

Firstly I pay for some of my fellow bandmembers, who are from Guinea but live in the Gambia, to get their 'residency' cards each year. This is a legal requirement for non Gambians who live there and it's quite a lot of money for any musician to find. I pay for 3 people's cards and this works out at about £50 each. This includes the money for transport (no digital systems here, you often have to travel to the 'office' several times, go somewhere else to get a photo, a photocopy, wait a long time and so on). anyone familiar with the country, or similar ones, will know what a palaver trying to get this sort of thing done can be...

Secondly I usually mange to visit each year and when I do I organise a 'beach outing' for friends and their children with my friend Mohammed who's family I always stay with. We've been doing this for years and everyone looks forward to it. Between 25-35 people come, we have a great time and this kind of 'day out' isn't something that the adults or the children usually get to do so it's extra special. It cost's around £120ish to manage it all - paying for transport from various places, organising food for everyone, paying for a 'place' in one of the beach bars where we can hang out and eat our own food (we have a long standing arrangement with 'Billy' on Brufut beach)...Also if funds allow I buy a couple of footballs, baloons, other 'little treats'... I can't go this year because I'm too broke but I really want them to still be able to do it. I know Mohammed is capable oof orgaanising it if I send him the money.