The Gambian Government brought to our attention the plight of a school further up-country than anything we have been involved with previously. With the help of a legacy from the late Carolyn Williams we replaced the existing "stick & straw" school building at N'Jalal Samba (very close to the border with Senegal) with a classroom block, teachers quarters, purpose built library, storeroom and toilets. We also provided a solar powered borehole well, our deepest yet at 78m.
This was by far our biggest and most complex project in the history of the trust and the chronology of the project was as follows:
- In June 2021 work on the borehole began - this is an essential first step as we can't build without a reliable and plentiful water supply.
- In October 2021 the Alkalo of the village kindly allocated the land for the new school much to the pleasure of the Headteacher and school management committee.
- In November 2021 the foundations were marked out and the hard work of digging them out began.
- By December 2021, some of the estimated 14,000 blocks required to complete the project had been made and construction had started in earnest on the main school building.
- During the first 7 weeks of 2022 the team on site made amazing progress, completing the perimeter wall and getting the classroom block, teachers quarters, the toilet block and library all up to roof level by mid February.
- Four volunteers from the UK went out to the Gambia at the end of February 2022 to assist with the final stages of the build. In and amongst the hard work there was time for plenty of interaction and fun with the pupils, staff and villagers.
The official opening took place on 3rd March 2022. A day to remember and one of celebrations, laughter, dancing, singing, smiles & tears (of joy!) for the pupils, teachers & villagers. In only four months the team replaced the existing ‘stick & straw’ structure with a brick built 4 classroom block, a library, teachers quarters, a storeroom, toilet block, solar borehole & perimeter wall! The classrooms are all kitted out with tables & chairs & the library is fully stocked with hundreds of books. The teachers also have access to exercise books, pencils & other educational resources. This was a fantastic team effort by a huge number of people including the builders in The Gambia led by Kebba Badjie, our supporters & volunteers in the UK who donated all the school resources, our trustees on the ground Steve & Hilary Lawther & the head teacher Mr Bah & his small team. None of this would have been possible without the wonderful gift from the late Carolyn Williams. Her benevolence means that the children of N’Jalal Samba have a facility that will enable them to gain an education they could only previously have dreamt of. The school has been built in her memory & is a testament to her generosity of spirit.
