A Germany
couple recently arrived in The Gambia with a motor car that they drove across
the Sahara Desert to support the Bottrop project. They are Bottrop Germany to
Bottrop The Gambia challengers who booked to take up the challenge to drive
from Germany to Banjul in support of the Bottrop project.
The rally
“Bottrop to Bottrop” is organised by Dominik Saubke and wife Jana Koppe which
is held for the first time in the history of the Bottrop project.
The couple
drove in a small but steady car that took-off from Germany on February through
Africa with the focus to support children to have a better holistic foundation
and to participate in the 35 years anniversary of the project.
Mr. Saubke
said they drove from Germany through France, Spain and then through the Sahara
Desert via Morocco, Mauritania and to Dakar in Senegal before arriving in The
Gambia.
He said they
were able to manage an average stage of 9,600km per day, excluding border
crossings and other stops.
His wife Jana
Koppe said the challenge is an interesting and unique experience that accorded
them the opportunity to meet people from different culture, language and
mentality. The couple commended the people
of The Gambia for the warm and smiling welcome accorded to them.
The couple’s
sole intention was to participate in the thirty-fifth anniversary of the
Bottrop project which has failed due to the suspension of all social gathering
in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
They said it is unfortunate that the anniversary will not go ahead but
they feel very safe in The Gambia as the people are friendly.
They advised
people to take the coronavirus seriously and follow the instructions given by
the government, the Health Ministry and the World Health Organisation.
The Bottrop
project country representative, Pa Aruna Jagana, said the concept of the
project was conceived in 1985 to strengthen partnership in the education
sector, health and environment, among others, through the efforts of German
nationals led by Wolfgang Gerrits and Gunter Schmitter.
He said the
two men with the collaboration of some committed Gambians such as the than
chairman, Alh. Dembo Jatta and Alh. Sanjally Bojang who provided land for
Bottrop Kindergarten and Bottrop Technical Senior Secondary School.
He commended
the couple for their commitment and the love they have for Gambian children