June 24, 2011

Abaraka

By kboyle

The word for thank you in Mandinka is abaraka.

We have all had those experiences in our lives; the new kid in school, the first day on the job, a move to a new city.  We have felt the uneasy feeling that forms in our stomachs from being in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by new people and not knowing what will come next.  Imagine 30+ people all in the same boat, from different cities and countries around the world thrown into a foreign land.   This is not some reality show, this is Team Gambia. 

What if in your everyday lives you could walk off of a plane and instantly create an environment where everyone you met had a single, simple and selfless purpose?  For Team Gambia our purpose is to help people gain access to vision care so that their everyday lives can be enriched.  We have been honored to see the 8 millionth OneSight recipient and have been able to help over 900 people in 5 clinic days.  We are breaking new ground in partnering with Sight Savers International.  We are not here to VOTE someone out, rather we are here to HELP someone out. 

Each of us in our own special way has made a contribution to our patients, the clinic and to each other.   And if you think about it, while we are helping Gambians, they are helping us realize our potential as individuals to operate selflessly with a one common goal – what an incredible gift! 

So, Team Gambia ( Yasmin, Angela, David, Katie, Kevin, Renato, Jonathan, John, Bill, Hanna, Leona, Chad, Jim, James, Deborah, Nahal, Michael, Gayla, Thu, Arnie, Nasim, Randy, Andrew, Andrea, Jeff, Erin, Wayne, Connie, Cindy, Tim, Mark, Albert, Doug ) would like to send a heartfelt ABARAKA to the Gambian people!

Abaraka

1 Comment

  1. Kym Willey says:

    Angela Auty,
    I saw you on Marokey’s video!  Hope you are having a great time.  Enjoy this experience of a lifetime.  I can’t wait to hear all about your trip.
    Kym

    Posted on Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:36 pm EST

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