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Brief histories of the first clubs of each geographic regions or countries
THE ROTARY CLUB OF BANJUL, the
First Club of The Gambia
Rotary International
District 9100
A Part of Our History of Rotary in Africa
The Rotary Club of Banjul was admitted into on the 7th of August 1979.
It had 24 charter members. Noteworthy of mentions is the most important role-played by our charter president, Mr. Abdou Faal,
who worked extremely hard to get the club on its feet.
The club adopted the Baobab tree its banner, a tree of which all its parts, from leaves to roots are useful.
The tree generally lives for up to 100 years.
Although it received its formal charter from Rotary International in 1979, the club had been in existence since 1974.
Since its inception to date, the club has come a long way in improving the quality of life of many Gambians through
community–based projects, the most ambitious being the well-digging and sanitation project that provided 50 villages throughout
The Gambia with concrete-lined, covered, hand pump wells and sanitary latrines. The project cost US$ 600,000.00.
The club has in place a scholarship program to benefit secondary school students who otherwise may not have an education
at this level.
The club has rendered services in the medical field through the provision of medicines and medical equipment to Royal Victoria
Teaching Hospital and Bansang hospital and supported the Polio immunisation campaign of the Department of State for Health.
The club has its regular program of providing twenty scholarships annually to needy and deserving students, and supervising
matching grants sponsored by Rotary international and other Rotary clubs overseas.
On projects, our main achievements in the past would include the provision of 92 concrete line wells with hand pumps, nation
wide; participating in the polio eradication campaign; provision of a 15 seated van for the school for the visually impaired
(GOVI); a mobile eye clinic for the URD and participating in the tree planting program, just to name a few.
We have also engaged in projects in the medical field, namely, providing the diabetes unit of the RVH with equipment worth over D
150,000 Dalasis and provision of an Auto clave sterilizing unit for the Bansang hospital.
We had realized a project to equip the computer center of the President Awards Scheme with 10 computers and their auxiliary
components.
The Rotary Club of EMMEN in The Netherlands donated to our Club 8,000 euros to solve the water problem in the Brikama
Health Centre.
A Taiwanese Rotary delegation from Taipei visited our club in 2006 and exchanged ideas on dentistry.
The Ambassador of China (Taiwan), Patrick Pei-Chi CHANG, visited The Gambia and our club.
He is a member of Rotary Club of Taipei, and Mr. Chang suggested that we ask his Rotary Club in Taipei to twin with Banjul.
Turning to our partners–in–service -
* The chartering of a second club, the Rotary Club of Fajara .
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The Rotaract Club has been active. Indeed, we await Rotary International’s approval for its charter.
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The Inner Wheel Club has had been quiet in the recent past, but we expect them to rise to the challenge as they usually do.
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The establishment of Interact Clubs have taken off and at least four clubs are flourishing in senior high schools.
Their efforts deserve commendations.
In the Rotary Club of Banjul, we continue to make progress. We continue to attract useful projects of tremendous benefits to
our community.
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