Samuel Burke returned to The Gambia with 2 barrels of clothes and boxes etc. By this time he had made contacts in Gambia and with his friend Mr Yankuba Bojang, they travelled the countryside giving out gifts.

Samuel and Yankuba also collected over 400 names and addresses of The Gambian children, so British children could write to them as pen pals.

Sam gave these boys; clothes, shoes and footballs and one of them was so overcome with joy he began to cry.

Sam met Mr Yankuba Bojang, (pictured below), who is nicknamed Jacob on his first trip to The Gambia.

Here he is giving a little boy the last hat from the barrel.

After Sam gave out half a barrel of clothes in the village he became a friend for life.

Sam and Jacob travelled around The Gambia villages distributing clothes and gifts.

Within 3 months of returning to London

 Sam founded Hearts to Africa. 

A charity with the sole purpose of collecting items such as clothes, shoes, books, stationery, tools, and small toys.

Any item that will make a difference to the quality of life for people in the Gambia.

Our aim for 2000 was to return to The Gambia with 60 barrels of clothes etc, the empty barrels will be used to store water for schools and health clinics.