WHAT WE DO and WHERE
INTBN provides free health education and educational support services in The Gambia, West Africa and Chicago, IL U.S.A. 

The organization conducts health education workshops in Chicago and The Gambia that are tailored for the participants, health fairs and health literature.  We focus on health topics that affect Africa and the African American Community such as HIV/AIDS, STI(D)s, Malaria, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, Mental Illness and other topics that affect the communities we serve .  Our educational material is in line and in compliance with local and international standards.

The Gambia, West Africa

The educational support service of INTBN in The Gambia provides financial support for the education of children that are at risk for exploitation and or extreme poverty with a focus on the female child. 

The organization also funds basic literacy programs for adult females 18 and older that cannot read, write or sign their name. 

INTBN donates new and used usable goods to individuals, families, organizations, schools and communities when these items are available. 

For information on The Gambia please visit these sites. 

(This site is recommended for its' statistical data.)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ga.html

http://www.visitthegambia.gm/

Chicago, IL USA

Lack of education and jobs brings about a frustration that begets violence and crime in underserved communities.

Educational support services in the Chicago land area focuses on helping those out of school to return. The organization provides resource information on GED programs, alternative high schools and training programs.  INTBN also provides information on Chicago City Colleges for adults. 

For more information on Chicago, IL U.S.A. please visit these sites.  

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/home.do

http://www.choosechicago.com/Pages/default.aspx

MANAGEMENT
INTBN is governed by an international board of directors in Chicago, IL, U.S.A. and has an advisory board in The Gambia that oversees Gambia specific projects. 

The management team at each respective location oversees the basic day to day operations of the organization. Our work is done in part through our network of volunteers.

OUR BEGINNINGS 
INTBN was first started and developed as a registered a nonprofit, charitable organization in The Gambia, West Africa.  In 2004,  Ms Victoria D Blakey began to teach basic health education on communicable as well as non communicable diseases to her neighbors in a local community while on a short stay in The Gambia.   These neighbors, knowing that she was a nurse would ask for different kinds of medications.  Ms Blakey didn’t have any medicine for them but what she did have was the information and or access to the information to help individuals and families take better care of themselves and treat some minor problems with nutrition and proper hygiene.

A few weeks later Ms Blakey met a young school age local girl on the beach selling mangoes, bananas and peanuts from a tray the little girl carried on her head.  It was in a tourist area, which is not safe for children, especially young girls.  On her face this young girl wore a grimace and a look of confusion, but with deep knowing eyes.  She was not in school and had never been to school because she had to work to help support her family.  This young girl touched Ms Blakey’s heart and spirit to fund this young girl’s education and give minimal financial support to the family to supplement the loss wages of the little girl and other children like her.   The short stay became a very long stay.     

While praying for clarity on these new challenges in a new land Ms Blakey received her divine inspiration and understood her purpose.  Core essentials were missing for many, the ones needed to survive, progress and lead fulfilled lives.  Good health and education, this is the mission of INTBN.