In the United States it is called Gambia.
In Africa, where the locals take nothing for granted, this is called The Gambia. Indeed, it is a wonderful place full of joy and appreciation.
And unlike America, there are no luxuries. Carter Smith, a graduate of Fremont Ross University, experienced a remarkably different perspective than in our society during his visit to Gambia with Soccer Gear For Gambia.
“In Gambia, I realized that we have everything here,” Smith said. “We are extremely blessed. They don’t have much there, but they have each other and they are happy.”
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Smith’s father, Brant Smith, owns the Maumee Soccer Centre. Co-owner Hassan Touray was born in Gambia and founded Soccer Gear For Gambia.
Throughout the year, the facility donates used equipment, including soccer balls, soccer cleats, socks, shin guards, clothing and water bottles, which are collected, placed in barrels and loaded onto a truck.
Touray, who has led six trips to West Africa in total, asked Smith a few years ago to help him pack, including deflating the balls to save space. Touray took Smith along to help unload the items for distribution this summer.
He learned that locals in Gambia do not focus on what they do not have, but treat outsiders with warmth and respect.
“Everyone was very genuine and warm,” said Smith. “The hospitality was outstanding. Everyone you meet says, ‘Welcome to Gambia.’ They call it the Smiling Coast. Everyone there is happy. Everyone in Gambia was very close.”
“It’s like a big family. When a family eats, they invite everyone. They’re all there together.”
Smith listed showers, air conditioning, transportation – whether by bus or private vehicle -, running water, roads, traffic lights, restaurants, jobs and factories among the things that are expected in the United States but not available elsewhere.
“People walk,” he said. “It’s a long way. We have things that are child’s play for us that they don’t have. Gambia opened my eyes to that.”
Smith couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw so many children lined up excitedly to get their own equipment to keep.
“Seeing the smiles on these children’s faces, getting to know them, playing football with them and experiencing their genuine joy,” he said. “For the children in these villages, distribution day is like Christmas morning.”
“These kids from all the villages are lining up. ‘Football Kits for Gambia’ is today. They’re lining up and ready. I feel beyond blessed to be a part of this, to be there and to see their faces. I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in and to make a difference in something like this makes me feel blessed that I can help.”
Football equipment for Gambia
Fremont Ross graduate Carter Smith and Soccer Gear For Gambia travel to West Africa.
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All over the country, children play football all day long.
“That’s the sport they play there,” Smith said. “They don’t have access to the equipment we have here. Not just equipment; some kids get cleats and wear them every day to school. Some kids get shirts and wear them every day.”
A water bottle is almost sacred. Anyone who uses it knows that they are lucky with every sip.
“There’s nothing like that there,” Smith said. “Sandals. A lot of them are barefoot. This kid might take that bottle back to their family – they don’t have a water bottle – and share it with their siblings. Here we lose it. There they use it.
“It goes far.”
Smith, who won an individual championship in the 113-pound class as a sophomore in 2017 while Ross won a team championship in wrestling in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference, played football in his youth and can still be found at his family’s facility.
“It’s very different from here. It’s sand,” he said. “Hard ground. It’s not turf or grass like in America. The ball rolls very fast on the sand. You see setups all over the villages. Two bats, maybe a rope tied across for a goal.”
“They play this game with heart and passion, I have never seen anything like it before.”
Football equipment for Gambia
Fremont Ross graduate Carter Smith and Soccer Gear For Gambia distribute merchandise in West Africa.
Of course, Soccer Gear For Gambia doesn’t have enough equipment for everyone. The kids seem to see the bigger picture and are grateful for any additions.
“We’re making a big difference, it’s beautiful,” Smith said. “At some point we’re going to run out of barrels. We only have a limited number of barrels and there are more kids than equipment.”
Soccer Gear For Gambia brought some things that the recipients never believed existed.
“A mini basketball hoop and a foosball table,” Smith said. “All the kids crowded around the table. We brought one to a village. The kids get together and play with these things that we take for granted here.”
Communication was not a problem, most people had at least some knowledge of English. Many locals spoke Wolof, six or seven languages in total.
Most of the time, there was no need to speak. Smith could read the true emotions of the children with the big hearts in their eyes.
It wasn’t just the children’s faces that told a story. Smith, who is returning to Gambia next summer, was smiling happily throughout the entire trip to West Africa.
“This is important to me because I can make a difference here and the opportunity to be part of something like this makes me happy and content,” he said. “It makes a big difference for a good cause.”
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