They took their opportunity; perhaps their only one...

[Belgian General]

As of 2004, my City and school have a sister-relationship with the Gambian capital Banjul. Our hospitals would exchange information, our climate organisations would work together and...our schools would exchange students.

The first year, 25 pupils of my school went to visit the Gambian High School. They learned about the African school system, tasted some Gambian culture but were especially confronted with the poverty in that country. The year after that, they'd send a group of pupils to Belgium for one year. The year after that, we'd go back. And so forth. During the years, pupils of our school would raise money to fund both our and their trips; by baking and selling pancakes or stuff like that.

This year, it was their turn to send a delegation of pupuls and teachers; about 25. They camelast week, and some of those kids were quite cool! They'd sit in our lessons, taste some Belgian culture, visit some places and whatnot, and of course it must have been quite a culture shock. They were guided by about ten of their teachers.
Last weeks visit was closed by a speech by their principal and vice-principal and ICT-teacher. It was a touching speech were they talked about how our cultures should interconnect and about how good this project was for some of those Gambian pupils. I think these projects opened the yes of a lot of my fellow students.

======

31th march 2009, Belgian national newspapers almost headlines with

Three Gambians missing after exhange with Belgian schools

Two ICT teachers (one of them who gave the speech) and the vice principal of Gambia's biggest school, ran off.
This must be a sign of how desperate they are. But it's not the first time. Two years ago, two pupils ran off. They were never seen again. We made some measurements, and as of then the attending pupils had to be screened. This time, the maximum age of the pupils was 15 (in the hope they weren't old enough to manage to run away and live on themselves) and the teachers had to be socially...stable.

They took their opportunity, a (slim?) chance on a better life.

Would you have grasped this opportunity?

I find the most shocking thing that their vice principal actually ran off..That's just, well, not good.

edit: added article (Dutch - no international newspapers have discussed it yet (and probably won't))
edit : Added information : All three of them are in their thirties and have wives and kids - which in my opinion, adds an even more dramatical factor to the case.
edit: Added information about the two who ran 2 years ago in the similar case : One of them was afterwards spotted in Italy, the other one in Sweden.

Discuss.

[s.rwitt]

Would you have grasped this opportunity?

Unquestionably yes.

[Каие]

Godamn cowards. To the core.

[molonthegreat]

Godamn cowards. To the core.

Why do you consider them cowards ?

[Каие]

They abandoned their poor families in Gambia.

[s.rwitt]

They abandoned their poor families in Gambia.

You don't know that.

[Каие]

edit : Added information : All three of them are in their thirties and have wives and kids - which in my opinion, adds an even more dramatical factor to the case.

From the OP.

[Belgian General]

This might be naïve from me, but perhaps they plan to start a new life here, get asylum, and get their families to join them.
Or find work and send it to them.
Somehow, I don't think I would have done it. If I didn't have a family to take care of, OK. But leaving behind kids..hmm. Not sure yet.

[Ishoss]

I completely understand why they did it.

If I myself would do it? Not if I already had wife and kids in Gambia.

[Tankbuster]

I understand their rationale behind it, but they are leaving both a family and a country behind that needs them.

[s.rwitt]

From the OP.

How do you know they aren't working to make money to bring their families? Or that their families knew of their plan all along?

[Каие]

Their place is by their families side, with their children, they are teachers for gods sake, responsible for educating the next generation of their people. But I can understand if they bring their families to them, that would be understandable.

[Norpheus]

Their place is by their families side, with their children, they are teachers for gods sake, responsible for educating the next generation of their people. But I can understand if they bring their families to them, that would be understandable.

And you mean that sending money from europe (more money than ever) isnt being by their side? Or do you think that the pupils will cry becuase now they have to get a new teacher becuase the old one got a happier and richer life?

[Каие]

And you mean that sending money from europe (more money than ever) isnt being by their side?

Unless he plans on stuffing himself in between the Euro notes...no he won't be their side. His money will be by their side. Provided he can find somewhere in the EU which pays only by cash (providing he finds a job at all which employs illegals) and he can send that money to Gambia, where the family of his has more money to exchange the money to Gambian money. In the mean time his family has nothing until he can arrange to get a job, get paid in cash and send the money over.

[Norpheus]

Unless he plans on stuffing himself in between the Euro notes...no he won't be their side. His money will be by their side. Provided he can find somewhere in the EU which pays only by cash (providing he finds a job at all which employs illegals) and he can send that money to Gambia, where the family of his has more money to exchange the money to Gambian money. In the mean time his family has nothing until he can arrange to get a job, get paid in cash and send the money over.

Yes, and all that is worth considering how people live in gambia and how much money is worth there.

[Belgian General]

Correct. Still, they leave a school behind, and I'm pretty sure the country is in lack of teachers already. I don't think losing an additional two ICT teachers will have a small impact on that school..

[Zephyrus]

IDK about you guys, but i find this daredevilry highly amusing.

[Каие]

This isn't a Hollywood move, and it isn't America. It's the EU. It's not as easy for an illegal to survive in the EU and it's not Hollywood image of sending money home so easily and surviving that easily. These teachers have families which they need to be physically be there for, they have good jobs, IT teachers, and provide a valuable service to their country by educating the next generation which just might fix their country.

[Norpheus]

This isn't a Hollywood move, and it isn't America. It's the EU. It's not as easy for an illegal to survive in the EU and it's not Hollywood image of sending money home so easily and surviving that easily. These teachers have families which they need to be physically be there for, they have good jobs, IT teachers, and provide a valuable service to their country by educating the next generation which just might fix their country.

1. Never said it was did I?

2. Let me see. Find a mcdonalds or any other place that wants cleaning. Find a cheap hotel or any good hideot to sleep at. Find a mailbox for the mails. Eventually ask for asylum.

3. All those things is nothing to what all the money could do to their families. I dont think you insee the importanc eof money in gambia, or how much money a working brother/father can do in EU for his family.

4. There are other teachers.

[Каие]

1. Never said it was did I?

Didn't say you did.

2. Let me see. Find a mcdonalds or any other place that wants cleaning. Find a cheap hotel or any good hideot to sleep at. Find a mailbox for the mails. Eventually ask for asylum.

You need a passport to work and a reason for asylum.

3. All those things is nothing to what all the money could do to their families. I dont think you insee the importanc eof money in gambia, or how much money a working brother/father can do in EU for his family.

I am not denying the money. I am questioning your thought that it is easy to just send money over.

4. There are other teachers.

There is a shortage of educated teachers in Gambia.