Help blind children in The Gambia receive an education

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

The Gambia Experience and their School Development Fund supports the international charity Sightsavers vision.

“Our vision is of a world where no-one is blind from avoidable causes, and where visually impaired people participate equally in society.”

Sightsavers supports the principle of inclusive education which is now accepted as the preferred approach to education. It is about the system adjusting to fit the child. It is broader than just formal schooling as it also involves making changes in the home and the community. It acknowledges that all children can learn and enables education structures to adapt to meet the needs of all children, so visually impaired children and sighted children can study alongside each other.

The Bakoteh Upper Basic School was established in 1999 near Serrakunda, the largest town in The Gambia, and has over 2,000 pupils. Sightsavers has asked the School Development Fund to assist the school in two ways. Firstly, to fund the building of 14 ramps into the classrooms enabling the visually impaired children that attend the school easier access to the classrooms and secondly to fund a vegetable garden including the fencing, tools and seeds. This will benefit all the children at the school enhancing their studies of agricultural science.

The total cost of these two projects is £2,280.

The School Development Fund team were only to please to support these projects and hope to work or further projects with Sightsavers in The Gambia in the future. Once the funds have been raised they will be paid directly to the schools, as with any other of the SDF projects, and you can rest assured that no part of funds will be lost in administration costs.

You can help us raise the funds for these important projects by way of a one off donation through the SDF website or a monthly donation by standing order (please email sdf@gambia.co.uk or call us on 0845 330 2060 for details).

March – News from The Gambia

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Joyce

Chris Packham and Malick Suso on the River Gambia

During the last month we’ve had a lot going on here in The Gambia. It was the 10^th edition of the International Roots Homecoming Festival and James Island, with its ruins of the former slave trading fort, was renamed Kunta Kinteh Island. Our birdwatching tour also took place. Unfortunately Chris Packham couldn’t lead the tour this year, he had to cancel at the last minute due to personal reasons, but luckily the excellent birding guide Malick Suso stepped in and both Malick and Chris are hoping to run more tours next winter. The first of the Rivers of West Africa cruises also stopped off in The Gambia during February, journeying from Dakar through the Saloum Delta and up the River Gambia. There are more cruises planned for next winter – find out more about Senegal cruises.

We’re also gearing up to receive our Spring and Summer guests for this year. People generally tend to think of The Gambia as a Winter sun destination, but it’s actually a popular destination throughout the year. It’s quieter than in the Winter, for sure, but Summer in The Gambia has its own quiet charm – and don’t be put off by the rainy season! It does rain, of course, but that rain is generally confined between the months of July and October and even then falls mainly at night or in short bursts during the day. Other than that it’s business as usual in The Gambia! More about Summer in The Gambia.

And lastly, we’ve also recently had a film crew over in The Gambia, taking footage of the rather marvellous Coco Ocean Hotel. You can see the video below, and find out more over at the main website.

February’s ‘News from The Gambia.’
January’s ‘News from The Gambia‘.

School Development Fund Newsletter

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

Having re-launched The Gambia Experience’s School Development Fund last year, we have produced our first newsletter with the latest news on school projects and fund raising including how you can raise money for the fund when you shop online without it costing you a single penny with EasyFundRaising!

The newsletter can be downloaded from the SDF website. If you would like to receive future editions you can register on the site too.

Buy malaria medication online & raise money for Gambian schools at the same time!

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

Next time you are travelling to The Gambia you may wish to consider buying your medication onine from Lloyds Pharmacy.

They can either deliver them to your pharmacy on the same day or direct to your home the very next day. Simply follow the link from our website gambia.co.uk and for every purchase made 8% will be donated to The School Development Fund.

The School Development Fund recently donated £1,390 to cover the costs of the materials to build a library at Jeddah Lower Basic School. The local community will provide transportation costs and labour.

February – news from resort

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Joyce

Sitanunku Lodge Bar Area

It has been a very busy few weeks in resort, with huge numbers coming in and out of the airport every week; and though it’s been very warm, there has been a wonderful sea breeze keeping everyone cool…

I mentioned the Sitanunku Lodge in the last dispatch, well it’s finally had it’s grand opening and is now well and truly open for business. It’s the first tourist lodge on the north bank of the River Gambia and has a genuinely peaceful location. You can sit with a cocktail beneath the massive baobabs and listen to the oysters clacking on the mangrove reefs… The food at Sitanunku is all freshly prepared and locally sourced, plus they have their own large vegetable plot. It’s generally a pretty unique experience!

There was also a bit of a party in resort this month as we celebrated Buba J’s 10 years with the Gambia Experience. There was a grand turnout and as Chris Rowles, the company MD, was in town he was able to personally present Buba with a gift to say a huge thank you for 10 years of excellent service!