D. Harris
Nursery & Lower Basic School
Serrekunda
The Gambia
West Africa
Tel: 2207788025

The school was established in 2001 by Mr Joseph Blay with the enrolment of 5 pupils.

We got involved in January 2003 whilst on holiday in The Gambia, the school had very little and was in desperate need of sponsors, so we committed ourselves to helping the school in whatever way we could, they have no government assistance and have to rely on sponsorship and what little the parents can contribute.

We pay the rent for the school which is £60 a month and also pay the teachers wages, there are now approximately 100 pupils aged between 3-9 years and 6 teachers. We also supply books, pens, chalks, crayons, charts etc and whatever we are able to take out with us. Donations in the form of money and stationary are gratefully accepted from various organisations and individuals, their generosity is overwhelming. We have built a toilet block and soak-away because there was no facility for them, there is no running water or electricity in the school, so bottled water is bought in for the children.

They are taught in English and are currently reading and learning from the “Ginn” and “Letts” educational books donated by a primary school in Wollescote for which my younger sister works she was able to obtain these used books for us. The enthusiasm in which the children recite nursery rhymes and their times table is a joy to see, working from a blackboard and chalk, the standard of teaching is very good and the ability of the children to learn is a pleasure to witness.

The present school building is owned by a family from Senegal and they want the building back, so our aim for the coming year is to purchase a piece of land in The Gambia and to have a school built to secure its future, Mr Blay the headmaster has found land close to our present school so the present pupils will still be able to attend. The landowner has agreed to let us pay for the land in instalments and we have paid the first of these instalments in January 2008. The rent for the school has been paid up until November 2008, so we have until that time to build the school.

We would like to thank Simon Evans and Will Kaye for their contribution to our funds from the sales of his book Gunner Kaye.

If anyone would like to help us in any way please contact:

Dot Ward 01994 427579
Or Margaret Avery 01994 427649
or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Headmaster Mr Joseph A Blay