The Gambian Schools Trust was established as a registered charity in January 2001. Originally, its sole aim to assist in financing primary education in the West African country. The government there provides very basic state education for those over seven years of age whose parents can afford it. There is no state provision for children under seven years of age, for whom the only available education is that provided by voluntary groups or the private sector.

The Gambian Schools Trust assists through providing direct funding for specific projects, by refurbishing existing schools and resources or building new ones in response to local requests and by supplying school resources and equipment which have been donated in the UK. The Trust also assists by enabling teachers from this country to share their expertise on a voluntary basis during short stays in The Gambia.

One of my life ambitions was to offer my time to work has a volunteer aboard and I was willing to go and work anywhere if I thought I may be of some use and perhaps give a little quality time to someone. 

I became involved with The Gambian School Trust in May 2008 and since then  my life has been changed completely. My three visits to Gambia in the capacity of a volunteer have been incredibly happy and I am privileged to work closely with the Gambian people. 

All the volunteers pay for their own flights, accommodation, food, drinking water and for the transport to get us to the places. 

There are three dedicated volunteers with the Charity who live in Gambia for six months Judith, Hilary and Steve and they ensure that the needs of the children and the volunteers are taken care of and we are looked after very well. 

During November when I was working in Gambia I had the privilege of revisiting Nyofelleh School.  I was informed that their water pump needed repairing and by making a donation their water pump will be repaired and the school children will once again have drinking water.  On my last day I visited Jataba Nursery School until that visit this school had not received any help and once again with donations and supplying the school with chairs, desks, exercise books, pencils and a special request from the headmaster could he please have some chalk I feel that this Nursery school, had been given help, support and hope. 

I can’t wait for the New Year so I can return to Gambia and work along side of The Gambia School Trust once again. 

Read an eyewitness account of the remarkable opening of our new school at Kumbija here or in the latest newsletter or download past newsletters here. This is the third school the Trust has building with funding kindly donated by the Blue Water Partnership.

 You can find us in the list of charities able to receive a percentage of your receipts.

Please remember the Trust when making sales on eBay

Read about the work of the volunteers, the people of Gambia and the Gambian Government working with the trust. Download the latest December 2009 newsletter and past newsletters in text only or PDF format on the Newsletter Downloads page