Gumbi 2024 update Part 2.
Due to the Covid pandemic and John’s illness, nobody had visited Gumbi for a few years, and so following Madeleine and Sophie’s 2023 visit, Jen Vidal and Jenny Griffiths visited in May 2024.
We were warmly welcomed by all and were very pleased to be taken around by Patrick Kamzitu, our local Co-ordinator, and to meet with James Gomani (who is now supporting Patrick in running the Fund) the Fund’s University students, the local school Headmaster and the community in Gumbi village.
A memorial ceremony in honour of John Vidal was held at Gumbi (see picture below of Patrick, Jen Vidal and the Gumbi Chief), where Jen presented a copy of John’s book to be kept in the village Library – sadly the library had lost its roof, but that has now been re-roofed. At Gumbi we also met Kennedy (see picture below), keeping the connection with the man who had inspired John’s original article.
Along with a major donor, we were also pleased to meet the young permaculture farmers and were delighted with progress made with the Gumbi Alton Permaculture project on our demonstration farm.