The Christian community of Latrikunda (CCLK) has in the past years been helping under-privileged children and youths realize their educational and vocational dreams. The community, mostly Catholics, has no boundary for their assistance. In the recent past, they took several children in a summer camp to Dakar which experience moved many parents and observers. Their two friends David and Valerie Hendry, English couple living in Spain, were present and have been supporting the CCLK realize their dreams.
The community has grown and they feel other small pentecostal churches were trying to make their presence felt. The community now craves for a school and a church. ‘Society and Development’ explores their strengths, what they do, and have done, and would do, and who is the force behind them. Society talks to their donor, David Hendry: How did you come to know CCLK?

It was in March 2000, when my wife and myself came to The Gambia to try to get a way to help needy children. I saw Leon at the airport who brought us to the Latrikunda community thus getting to know Richard, Jonathan and the others. Our aim and theirs is the same, so we started work since March 2000.

S/D: What did you start with from that time?

David Hendry: There was a family whose roof was blown off by wind and their landlord was not willing to do anything about it. We decided to make it. Since then our assistance has been towards the educational upliftment of the kids whose parents are less fortunate.

S/D: What is the area you help in?

David Hendry: All the funds we raise are virtually educational grants. We hope they may be able to set up a school. It is difficult to raise funds but people always end up giving. S/D: How often have you been coming to see CCLK since 2000?

David Hendry: I’ve come every year except last year when I lost my mum and my wife had an operation. We live in Spain but we are English. ‘Society and Development’ further spoke with their Public Relations officer and this was what he said:

Society Development: What areas of development is CCLK engaged in?

Richard (Joe): We are engaged in providing Grant in Aid scheme (LEGS) for our youths. In September 1988 our scholarship scheme was funded with only five students from St. Therese’s Primary School through membership subscriptions. Since then we have granted D131,489.80 to over fifty students in the primary,secondary and tertiary levels. CCLK have also facilitated the sponsorship of over twenty other students mainly early school leavers, by NGOs to pursue vocational or technical education. CCLK further helped them to secure jobs.

CCLK further deals with relief and evangelization, covering families whose houses were destroyed by rains, a member who was nearly lost in an accident, another who was terribly sick, bereaved families and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and more. We evangelize by taking the total responsibility and coordinating masses, retreats, wake-keeping, pilgrimage to Kungkujang, Wednesdays and May devotions among other religious activities. Through relief end evangelization we have demonstrated that as a church, we care about the needs of our people who strive to keep Christ’s mission on earth.

We also care for the youth and children. They have their own ministry. They play a pivotal role in the life of the church.

Nathaniel Johnson, President of CCLK pleaded with Bishop Ellison for a church in their area because their population is large now. We are longing to do more to help our society. We aim to empower the youth. Already we have produced a Rev. Sister and a senior seminarian studying in Freetown. We shall open more facilities.