Developing relationship with Project Gambia.

Our Prep School were delighted to welcome Bev from Project Gambia back to King’s St Alban’s this week, further building up the relationship between the two organisations.

Project Gambia is a charity which supports a school in the busy market town of Serekunda. Bev spoke passionately to the children about where The Gambia is and the languages the children in The Gambia speak. Our pupils were surprised to learn that in Gambian school children are taught in English. Bev went on to describe the extensive challenges faced by schools, from the poor structure of the school buildings themselves to the lack of resources and play equipment. Again, the children were surprised to learn that some classrooms didn’t have enough stable desks for all the pupils to sit at.

Journeying beyond school life, Bev went on to explain the challenges facing the population of Gambia as whole, including overcrowded living conditions, with many people living under one roof,  and some children having to share a bed. Bev also described the extent of food poverty they faced, before sharing some photographs of children in The Gambia wearing King’s Worcester uniform. Uniform previously been donated by the King’s community has made its way safely to Gambia and has been distributed amongst some of the poorest children.

Pupils were fascinated to hear how Project Gambia was helping by creating larger windows to add light and air, and refurbishing toilet blocks. Project Gambia also support a food programme which supports children from very poor backgrounds who are unable to bring their own lunch to school, ensuring that children have a nutritious meal each day. Our pupils were surprised to learn that it costs the charity 50p a week to provide lunch for just one child. King’s St Alban’s will be hosting a cake sale in order to raise funds to support the programme in the coming weeks.

The whole King’s St Alban’s community is looking forward to working more closely with Project Gambia; for more information on this charity please visit https://www.projectgambia.org.uk/