​On 20 September, GAM asbl took part in an event organised by the EU Committee of the Regions, as part of the Spanish Presidency of the EU. It was a unique opportunity to give visibility to our association and our projects.

​The 4th meeting with our partners from the South presented the progress of the GAM 2023 projects and the GAM 2024 project proposals, which will be announced after approval by the GAM asbl Board of Directors at the beginning of November 2023.

​LOTERÍA DE NAVIDAD 2023
Our Christmas lottery number is now on sale. The draw will take place on 22 December 2023.

A group of GAM asbl volunteers travelled to Kenya, in what was the 8th humanitarian trip of the association, to visit the projects funded by GAM in this country.

On 17 August, in Tuum, taking advantage of the visit of our volunteers, took place the inauguration of the bakery, a GAM 2023 project that aims to promote the empowerment of Samburu women.

​The contact with the beneficiaries of the projects, but also with the GAM representatives on the ground was certainly an interesting and enriching experience.

This trip was an excellent opportunity to see the extraordinary work being done by missionaries in Kenya, supported by GAM asbl. We visited three villages where GAM is funding projects: Tuum, Barsaloi and Lodoung'Okwe. All three are situated in a part of the country that is very poorly communicated (rocky roads, unpaved tracks and long distances), making the work of the missionaries even more difficult. In addition, many Kenyans told us that the Samburu and Turkana tribes living in these villages had been forgotten by the government. During our visit, the Lodoung'Okwe area was experiencing a period of severe drought; women had to walk more than an hour to reach the dry rivers, where they dug a hole in the riverbed to draw water. The Samburu women, beneficiaries of one of the projects we visited, aimed at empowering them, which starts its second phase in January 2024, asked us to build a well in the area where they receive their training, so that they do not have to walk so far to fetch water. They also gave us many other ideas on how we can continue to help them.

The visits to these projects showed us the true reality of these vulnerable populations, to whom GAM will continue to provide support through the financing of projects that meet their needs, but also through the establishment of strong and lasting partnerships that allow a real and effective north-south cooperation.

​In addition to external aid, the best partnership is the local participation of the beneficiaries, which means empowerment, and which they do very well in all our projects, being a non-negotiable policy of GAM asbl. It is a matter of avoiding any paternalistic thinking.

Even if the wind blows against us, the mighty work goes on: you can contribute a stanza

Lodung'okwe, 2023. As if we were in the oven about to be charred to death, people cry out for rain. The water has to be scooped out of the sand drop by drop and this task involves such an effort that, by the evening, the women who have scooped the sgu and carried it on their backs are exhausted and breathless for anything else. Yesterday, Ana Lenkuro, who has three daughters, all students, arrived tired from herding to ask for 20 litres of water that she could not even carry. In these difficult times, faith increases for those who make the effort. The women have learned to value the work of each day. There are no goats for sacrifice, debts are not repaid, and despite the leniency of the moneylenders, the one who has been forgiven rages against his debtor for a small amount.

There was a man in Lodung'okwe who helped everyone, who gave advice, who was a man of faith and very much appreciated by the community. One night he was robbed and killed. The people know who he was, which clan he belongs to and they simply say: "for our sins we have no rain, no development, no leaders, no sheep for sacrifice, no fattened calves for feasting, we are reduced and exhausted; our animals die, our men wander like sleepwalkers looking for what to do, and end up killing the tedium with liquor that makes them momentarily forget their suffering".

Yesterday Mpunyaki's mother came, a once slender woman, stricken by hunger and tuberculosis, while her husband lives only for liquor.

The drought has also affected the growing elephant population and they are desperate for food for their young.

Recently, in Lodung'okwe, people brought food for the poorest, and a group of girls brought a sack of rice to share with orphans and widows. What a great action by a community overwhelmed by hunger and still able to share from their poverty.

In Lodung'okwe every day there are women who show us their simplicity, their wisdom, their virtuous femininity. They are the Samburu women. GAM also supports them as much as possible with its sustainable projects, to help them grow, to empower them and to help them finally recognise the fundamental role they play in their community.

​"We are beings full of passion. Life is desert and oasis. It knocks us down, hurts us, teaches us, makes us the protagonists of our own history. Though the wind blows against us, the mighty work goes on: you can contribute a stanza. Never stop dreaming." (Walt Whitman)

The GAM BARBECUE brought together a large number of benefactors and friends of GAM asbl to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere on an unusually warm day for Brussels, which once again demonstrated the great interest shown by everyone in supporting GAM asbl's projects in different parts of the world. Many thanks again to our volunteers for their efforts and dedication, without which the success of this event would not have been possible.

SPANISH SUMMER DRINK, an event organised by GAM asbl on 23 June in the atrium of the European Commission, at which we presented the association and its projects to a new audience, who did not hesitate to show their interest in and support for GAM asbl.

GAM T-shirts, already on sale, in various sizes, with a white background and 100% organic cotton. Buy it now!
Available at info-gam@gam-asbl.com

The 3rd GAM Volunteers' Meeting took place in Brussels on 14 May, which was attended by all those who, on a constant and regular basis, collaborate with the association in the development of its own functioning, in the organisation of its events, in the dissemination of its activities, in the maintenance of its webpage, etc.

​Although not all GAM volunteers were able to attend, those who participated enjoyed an atmosphere of community and joy.

​We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 10 June at GAM's BBQ, one of the association's main events, which aims to offer all its benefactors are laxed meeting place that will help to unite and strengthen our community of volunteers and benefactors of GAM, while at the same time providing the opportunity to learn about and support the development of our sustainable projects in different parts of the world.

You can book your tickets through the form available here

In April, we met again with our partners and project leaders, all located in the countries where GAM asbl develops its sustainable projects.

The President of GAM asbl, Amilcar Ferro, welcomed the new project leaders and explained the new procedures currently required by the partnership in terms of project submission and management; he described the projects approved this year and reported on the financial results of GAM asbl in 2022. He also invited the GAM representatives to follow the news that the association regularly publishes on social networks and on its website.

For their part, the GAM representatives in the destination countries reported on the progress of the projects and undertook to send the interim report with the results achieved to date, as well as the description of the progress made in the first half of 2023.

The next meeting will take place in September and will coincide with the submission of the 2024 project proposals.

Nomadic peoples are constantly on the move, depending on the availability of pasture and water. The Samburu people live in the upper Suguta Valley and have access to their sacred bush. The climate is mild and the rains are more abundant. The Turkana live deep in the valley marked by high temperatures and inhospitable terrain, full of narrow and dangerous roads and many caves where the inhabitants hide.
They communicate with Lake Turkana where they go to visit relatives and to stock up on fish. The Pokot also live further south and sometimes there are clashes to  steal cattle. The government is currently on a disarmament campaign. They have imposed a curfew and soldiers are merciless when it comes to retrieving weapons. There are mafias behind the cattle rustling and it will take many years for this problem to be solved definitively.

The 2nd edition of "Tapas y Alegría" took place on 18 March, which, on this occasion, far exceeded all expectations.
Many thanks to the volunteers and the public for their trust, support and generosity. Together we are getting more support and recognition for our projects.
Thank you.
Always.

On the 18th of March, at 19:00h. , the 2nd edition of " Tapas y Alegría" will take place, an event with which GAM asbl aims to raise funds to finance its projects for 2023.

The objective of " Tapas y Alegría" is to mix Spanish dance and gastronomy to promote solidarity and support for the most needy wherever GAM asbl performs.

You can book your tickets through the GAM website:
Registration closed

​For 16 years, GAM asbl has been developing sustainable projects for human promotion in different regions of the world. In 2023 , for the first time, GAM will support the implementation of a project in Asia, in Cambodia. The other four projects will be developed in Kenya ( 2 ) , Angola ( 1 ) and Bolivia ( 1 )

In January, the GAM asbl projects are launched. Once they have been approved, we inform the project leaders of the budget for the projects and the programmes start to achieve the objectives set.
  
"Empowerment workshops for Samburu women"
Lodoung'Okwe. Kenya.
 
"Reforestation project"
Cotagaita, Potosí. Bolivie.
 
"Literacy programme for out-of- school children from 3 to 15 years old"
Kampong ChHang, Cambodia.
 
"Social communication training for community leaders"
Luanda, Viana. Angola.

"Construction and fitting out of a bakery"
Tuum. Kenya.

On 18 March, at 19:00 h., the 2nd edition of " Tapas y Alegría" will take place, an event with which GAM aims to raise funds to finance its 2023 and 2024  projects.  You  can  book  your tickets through the GAM website.

Dear volunteers, dear members and dear friends of GAM asbl,

At this time of the year we would like to thank you for all the attention you have given to our activities in support of GAM's work with the most disadvantaged.
The Samburu women, the population of Kounahiri and the communities of Lodoung'okwe have been the happy beneficiaries of your generosity, thanks to which their future will be more worthy.
It is true that the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine has affected our lives. Nevertheless, GAM has been able to count on your unfailing support.
The year 2023 is before us with a great challenge to face together. For the first time in 15 years we will support a project in Asia, in Kampong CHhnang, Cambodia. In this case it is a literacy programme in rural areas for out-of-school children, between 3 and 15 years old.
One of the priorities of GAM asbl is the sustainability of its projects and the application of measures to protect and respect the environment. This is why in 2023, among the five projects planned, the reforestation with indigenous species in Cotagaita, Bolivia, is so important to us.
After the completion of a three-year literacy programme, we continue to support the empowerment and specialised training of Samburu women in Kenya, this time in small-scale economic management.
A kind of "Pain Quotidien" would be created in the middle of the Samburu desert by the creation of a bakery in Tuum, run by Turkana women; a novelty in the region.
The last but not least project will be developed in Viana, Angola. This is a training programme in social communication for young community leaders.

Let us take up the challenge together!

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023.
 
Amilcar Ferro B.
President of GAM asbl