In The Gambia there is a cost to go to school, although there are some free local schools most of them are basic with hardly any schoolbooks and supplies for the children, at this school there is also a small library (although it is low on selection). Volunteers usually run these schools and the children can attend sessions on certain days or times of day when the school is open. We have donated stationary, exercise books, pens and pencils for the children and chalk for the teachers.
We are trying to meet with some of the volunteers so we can see what else we could offer and make the classrooms more colourful and stimulating for the students with colourful educational posters and games for the children to learn and play.
We are planning to put together school starter packs for the children which would be a basic school bag with all the usual items a child would need to go to school, we will also support parents with any costs for uniform or clothing and shoes to get a student started.
Obviously, we need to understand what the volunteers and children think would be useful so we will be guided by them.
