For over 25 years Gerrards Cross Methodist Church raised money to help poor children and their families in The Gambia, West Africa.
At first the money went to build three classrooms, an office and a store for the Nursery School at Kunkujang. After that we paid the teachers' salaries until another group took over that responsibility. This organisation also paid for the drilling of a bore hole so that the school and those living in the immediate neighbourhood now have a supply of clean water. There was a measurable improvement in the children's ability to concentrate and learn when fresh water was given during their mid-morning break.
In addition to this they began a
scheme to give breakfast to the children and to teach good hygiene practice, using the toilets and washroom donated by another supporter. More recently ceiling fans were installed in one of the classrooms as part of a plan to extend this to the whole school.
At the last count, there were just over 200 children between the ages of
3 and 7 receiving a basic education to prepare them for entry to
Junior School.
