TWO teenagers from West Devon recently embarked on a trip of a lifetime when they were granted the opportunity to go to the Gambia. Antony Butcher and Lizzie Blowey, both 18, from Tavistock, were given £1,000 by the Youth Opportunity Fund to experience the diverse culture and musical traditions of the Gambia. Travelling with them was Andrew Dawson, proprietor of Goodies From The Gambia, a business based in Albaston, who regularly makes trips to the Gambia and brings back fairly traded goods to sell in the UK. After teaching students African drumming at Tavistock College for a year, Lizzie and Antony applied to the Youth Opportunity Fund in order to gain a first hand experience of how African drums were made and sold, and to learn new drumming patterns to take home and share with other young people. Lizzie, currently studying towards A-levels at Tavistock College, said: 'It was an absolutely phenomenal experience. It was one of those rare occurrences that is impossible to describe unless you experience it for yourself.' Antony, who finished his A-levels last year, said: 'It was great just to jam with them and learn how about their traditions and their culture. It was a wonderful and emotional experience — I think we both learnt so much. We're both looking forward to sharing our experience with other young people and children in the area.' Antony and Lizzie have already been booked to give a free talk at Tavistock Youth Café this month, and hope to visit local primary schools with a presentation and drumming workshops. Anyone wishing to book a free talk or workshop should send an email to [email protected]">[email protected] Lizzie is pictured drumming with Bobo, who lives in The Gambia.
