Devizes MP Claire Perry is to visit Gunjur in The Gambia for a week in January. Marlborough’s link with Gunjur has been looked after for the past thirty years by the Marlborough Brandt Group (MBG). Mrs Perry will be accompanied by her daughter Eliza.
Dr Nick Maurice, one of the founders of MBG and now its director, says: “This will give great encouragement to our colleagues and friends in our partner non-governmental organisation TARUD, the Gunjur Link Committee and the wider community of Gunjur – and will particularly bring a feeling of solidarity with women in the community.”
She and her daughter will stay with a family in a compound in the village, and will experience Gambian generosity and hospitality as well as the difficulties arising from the village’s lack of running water and electricity.
She will see some of the development projects in which MBG have been jointly involved: the pre-school, the women’s vegetable gardens, the water and sanitation programme, and the anti-malaria and health education programmes.
While in Gunjur she will be formally opening the new market place built this summer by young people from St John’s and Marlborough College.
She will also spend time with the UK High Commissioner to gain an understanding of the region and of the wider political context in which MBG operates.
At Westminster, Mrs Perry chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group which works with government to encourage links between communities in UK – whether towns, schools, hospitals or businesses – and communities in the developing world.
Deluge will bring new life to River Kennet so long as it doesn’t go on too long declares ARK
