Tell us some more about The Gambia

Before I received an email asking from help from Lamin Fofanah, the Chief Executive of Aid for Orphans and the Disabled (AFOD) back in April, I have to admit that I didn't know much about The Gambia, other than it was to be found in West Africa, so I very quickly did some swotting up.

The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours has enjoyed long spells of political stability since independence in 1970. This stability has not translated into prosperity however.

Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts. Most of the poulation are however subsistence farmers.

The population of the Gambia is 1.5 million and the country covers an area of 4,360 square miles - both are about half that of Wales, my home country.

The extent and effects of the AIDS virus in Africa are well documented and no doubt we are all aware that the majority of people with the disease can be found in Africa. The Gambia is equally affected by the AIDS epidemic and currently over 20,000 of the population of this small country are infected. AIDS tends to affect people between the ages of 15 and 49 years - the time when people should be most productive and have the greatest economic and familial responsibilities.

The orphans of AIDS victims and disabled people in most of Africa are very much the poorest of the poor.

At the Enfys Acumen, we have over twenty years experience of working in some of the poorest communities in the UK and with organisations tackling a wide range of social issues, but working in The Gambia would be something quite different.

It would be a fantastic challenge to apply our skills in organisational development and coaching in a new setting, with a different culture of people and with some of the greatest social needs we have come across.