Contact Address Details:
Opera Africa
Banjul area Head office
PO Box 4527, Bakau
Kanifing Housing Estate
Kanifing Municipality, Ksmd
The Gambia,
West Africa
 Tel
no: +220 7283266
9989210
Email: info@operafrica.com
paul@operafrica.com
Branches:
Madina Salaam Village
Kombo South
OperAfrica
Registered office
Hunters Moon
Haccups Lane
Michelmersh
Romsey SO51 0NP
Hampshire, England
Tel no: +44
01794 368105
Email:
paul@operafrica.com
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Information:
The
Opera
Africa charity is a registered non-governmental organization
from the UK working in The Gambia in the areas of agriculture,
women and children's health.
OperAfrica was founded by its owners after they had visited
many rural and urban areas around the country and saw first-hand
the needs of rural villagers,
especially in the southern region. As a result a charity was
established in the UK and it has been recognised as an NGO
in Gambia.
It aims to make all its programs promote self-sufficiency with
the ultimate goal of transferring responsibility for the
projects to the communities concerned. However, prior to handing
over, they aim to ensure that the projects themselves are
sustainable in the long run.
To ensure that maximum benefit goes the beneficiaries of their
schemes no money is
spent of bureaucracy and the few staff employed are from their
target communities in The Gambia and take an active role in
carrying out the charity's plans.
When
Opera
Africa began its work it was focused on aiding the women of
Medina Salaam to provide for their families with extra food
being cultivated on local village land rented to the women
for a nominal few pennies a year. The 1 hectare plot was then
fenced, inputs were provided such as fertilizer,
seeds, pesticides and several
water wells dug to provide for crop irrigation.
This garden
project is now able to provide more nutritious
food for their families and any surplus crops are sold
in the local market with the extra cash going back to their
families allowing them to pay for things like student fees.
Projects:
• Agriculture
Plots of land have been acquired for a number of villages
for women farmers along with water wells. Inputs have been
provided as well an agricultural
consultant, who helps them adopt new farming methods to increase
their productivity and the quality of crops.
• Eye Operations
They have financed and coordinated nearby health resources to
provide treatment and screening. Over the years they have
enabled over 200 cataracts operations to take place as well as
other less serious eye treatments.
•
Health Facilities
Opera Africa's goal is to raise enough financing to a construct
small health center
in one of the poorest Gambian villages in their targeted communities.
• Malaria Health Education
In conjunction with better diet, potable
water and food, it aims to promote awareness about common,
chronic and critical health problems. It has also held a malaria
sensitisation program in which posters were accompanied by
an audio short play in the local Mandinka
tongue.
• Music & Sports Sponsorship
It has sponsored a soccer competition and music show in Gunjur.
With the assistance of Southampton Football club, they have
also donated equipment and kit to local football teams.
•
Water
Opera
Africa have carried out well
digging, borehole sinking and the rehabilitation and repair
of existing wells. It has also provided a water tank and pump
which led to a decrease in infections related to contaminated
water.
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