Week one

29 May - I arrive in The Gambia. People from SOS Children's Villages The Gambia give me a very warm welcome. They are all informed about the project. I am happy to be here, looking forward to start my work as soon as possible.

30 May - This is bad news! They tell me that the linen for the painting has not arrived yet! I can't understand: it's supposed to be here already! I try to phone the factory, but I cannot reach anybody. I will try again tomorrow.

31 May - The linen producer apologizes; they had some production problems because of the enormous size of the linen [a special production to establish the world record]. It will take at least two more weeks before it's ready to be sent. I get angry, that's not what they promised. I arranged everything before I left Austria....but I cannot do anything but accept it. 

Week two

4 to 8 June - I get crazy! I can hardly sleep. There are thousands of ideas in my head concerning my painting and I have to sit here and wait. 

9 to 10 June - I went on a tour this weekend to change my mind a bit and to get to know a little bit more about The Gambia. The Gambia is a beautiful country, but very hot! I get in contact with local people. The majority of them seem to be poor, but they are very friendly. As soon as I mention SOS Children's Villages, they cheer up. The whole country seems to know about SOS Children's Villages The Gambia. Once more, I am proud to do this project for a project of SOS Children's Villages in The Gambia. If only I could start! I hope to get good news from the linen factory tomorrow! 

Week three

11 to 17 June - I am desperate. The linen still hasn't arrived yet and I feel time is running through my hands... I started to read a book a lady working for SOS Children's Villages gave me. It's about Gambian traditions. It's really interesting to read about the values and traditional customs of the people here, so different from the on I know (European culture).    

Week four

18 June - Finally! The linen should arrive by the middle of the week. SOS Children's Villages The Gambia has arranged a hall for me to work. It's in the premises of the SOS Technical and Production Centre in Bakoteh, where young people get trained in carpentry, metalwork and auto mechanics. As I take a look at the hall, some staff and students from the centre come to visit me and ask me what kind of painting I will do. I explain them my plans and also ask them about their work, here in the centre. They tell me more about their training programme and show me some of the wood and metal work they do. They really make lovely furniture and very beautiful metal doors. “You are artists just like me”, I say. They start laughing and I can see how proud they are of their work.

20 June - I get a call from Austria. The paint, which should already have been sent, is classified as a 'dangerous delivery'. What does that mean?

21 June - The transport company tells me, that they need to organise a special transport to send the paint and this is going to take another ten days. Are they all crazy? This paint is acryl paint, not flammable... I must confess, I was not prepared for this kind of trouble. I start to get really upset. People from SOS Children's Villages The Gambia are being very friendly and cheer me up. This seems to be typical for Gambian people! They seem to have better nerves and a different understanding about time. And they are definitely more patient than me! 

Week five

25 June - Finally, I got the linen! The transport costs are tremendous! I have to call my sponsors in Austria. They support me and know that I am doing this for SOS Children's Villages The Gambia. I tell them about the impressive work SOS Children's Villages is doing in the country. They all admire it and promise me to help.

26 June - I can start to unpack the linen in the hall. The people from the SOS Training and Production Centre help me. All know that we want to raise money for the extension of the SOS Regional Mothers and Adult Training Centre. “We all pray that it's going to be a successful project”, said a woman in the office today. And so do I!      

29 to 30 June - This weekend I went to a small fishing village called Tanji, about 30 kilometres from SOS Children's Villages Bakoteh. On my way, the police stopped me. I showed them paper saying I am invited here by SOS Children's Villages The Gambia and staying in their facility and all of a sudden they became very friendly! “SOS Children's Villages is doing a good work for the people in The Gambia, we appreciate it a lot”, says one of the policeman. He lets me pass. It's really impressive how everyone knows and appreciates the work of SOS Children's Villages in this country! 

Week six

2 July - The colour has arrived, I can finally start to do the painting! 

* The SOS Regional Mothers and Adult Training Centre located in Bakoteh, The Gambia, provides various trainings to SOS mothers from the North/West Africa region and Senegal, as well as people from the community.Two months trainings are regularly organised for SOS mothers and aunties, to equip them with the necessary skills to provide quality childcare. Their curriculum includes both theoretical and practical courses such as childcare and development, effective parenting, all aspects of home management, textiles, arts & crafts, and many other courses. Opportunities of training in adult literacy, hotel catering, sewing and craftwork are also offered to the community.Since 2006, the centre runs the first Social Work Certificate programme in The Gambia, resulting from a joint initiative from UNICEF, the Government of The Gambia and SOS-Kinderdorf International. All the training programmes are co-ordinated by specialists in their respective fields with experience in adult training.