By Alan Dick, Volunteer and Fundraiser

"Hmmm...... the Gambia......yes, somewhere in West Africa," I thought to myself when, back in 2007, I first had discussions with James Holden about the African Oyster Trust to which I wanted to contribute in some way. So first task was to find out exactly where it is as I had agreed to go out with James in order to familiarise myself with the country, its issues and of course the work of the AOT.

Geographically, I was surprised by its smallness, shape and the fact that it is surrounded on three sides by Senegal - but this was nothing compared to the experiences that were to unfold during a week in 2008.

And so it was that in early March I became a member of a party of four that set out to the Gambia - in the shape of Kira Dalton, our unofficial chaperone and, in my view, a true 'Mother Theresa' figure of the Gambia; James and his son Alex, who wanted to experience an African culture, before embarking upon a rugby coaching spell in South Africa, later in the year. 

After a brief period of acclimatisation, our first port of call was the Kunta Kinteh nursery school in Serekunda - a remarkable achievement in such a relatively short period of time by Kira, the AOT and the indigenous few.What a welcome we received  - the smiling faces, the classroom singing , the joyous delight at receiving 'minties' (sweeties - a real luxury) and the eagerness to have their pictures taken in order for them to see themselves on the camera screen (one of the many things we take for granted, yet never experienced by the majority of gambians).

However , the real highlight for me was the trip to Gunjur  in the Southern part of gambia to see the nursery school that was being created from derelict buildings on the site of the present primary school.The project had been conceived and started by a lady called Ali Calvert and I was only too happy to assist with the funding of  this project in order to help bring it to fruition - hot off the press, the 'clerk of works' (the redoubtable Kira) has reported excellent progress.In the fullness of time, the AOT would also like to provide first aid facilities at this school, and hopefully this will be funded by the recent generosity of the Greggs of the Midlands employees.

My week in the Gambia also afforded me the time to experience other aspects of the country, most notable of which was our trip up river to Juffureh ( the village brought to fame by Alex Haley's novel Roots) - this visit left me with mixed emotions as the abject poverty of the villagers was only too apparent and you left with the feeling that any financial  benefit from the marketing of this attraction did not actually find its way into the pockets of those that most needed it.Given the plethora of bird-watching opportunities that exist in the Gambia, James did also try to turn me into an ornithologist - he failed to do so, but at least I can now tell the difference between a violet turaco and a purple glossy starling !!

Overall it unquestionably was the individual cameos and fleeting images that created the most impactful and lasting impressions - a game of draughts with Mr. Faye and his friends ; a game of cards with the local yougsters ( they now know how to play snap !!) ; Kira kitting out a toddler with some 'new' clothes; Omar's great pride in the rebuilding of his 'home', the original having  been destroyed by termites(!) ; having green tea with omar's family- they have virtually nothing but what they do have, they are prepared to share - a truly humbling experience.

Would I go back ? Probably at some stage in the future, primarily to see the progress being made by the AOT, but equally importantly, as a sense check, just to remind me that, despite the present woes and tribulations of the credit crunch, high fuel inflation etc., just how lucky we really all are in the Western world.

By James Holden

We were delighted to see a wonderful article about Kunta Kinteh Nursery School which appeared in Nursery Education Plus magazine this month (May).

The double page article by Lady Kira Dalton tells the entire story of the nursery, and everything that goes into making it such a success story. It’s a story we are proud to be part of, so please do enjoy the full article at:

http://magazines.scholastic.co.uk/content/2451

By Laura Holden, Trustee
Written March 2007

It is a week since we returned from our most recent visit to The Gambia, and I now feel able to put into words what I saw, heard and felt at Kunta Kinteh Nursery School.

When we visited Kunta Kinteh a year ago, it was to see the compound walls and foundations. And now? Well, can so much have happened in just a year?! It has of course, made possible by so many things: the materials we have been able to make available; the guidance and buying / bartering skills of the dynamic Kira Dalton; the funding from family, friends and business colleagues in the UK; and the amazing effort and dedication of the local community, led so well by our friend Fanding.

It was ‘Nation’s Day’ (former Commonwealth Day) when we visited, so the children were in their best clothes – some traditional, some Westernised, but all looking their best. Some of the little girls had colourful foil wrapped sweets and shells braided into their hair. All the children brought their own lunch for this special day.

We arrived to a “Welcome Welcome” song, followed by a stream of colourfully dressed children with ear-to-ear smiles and hands outstretched in greeting. Playtime followed, with a small ball pool, a slide, a sandpit, and new swings, completed just the night before by a local carpenter. Tennis balls were handed out to the children, and music played to complete the celebratory atmosphere.

Fanding and the teachers proudly showed us the classrooms (their walls adorned by wonderful alphabet pictures), the work books of the children, then the store room, the four toilets and the kitchen.

The teacher and trainee teachers are working well together, and the 60+ children looked well nourished and healthy. The daily meal is very much appreciated by children and staff alike, and we were also given the chance to sample Caddy’s cooking as she prepared chicken, onion and chips, all on a wood fire! A new bore hole has made a real difference in terms of the time and energy spent collecting water from the ‘local’ well a mile away - 17 visits a day had been normal for the cooking, drinking, washing and toilets. The addition of new gutters and a water butt mean that now no water is wasted at all.

The new community clinic will not take long to complete, requiring as it does some tiling in the surgery, a new roof, paint for the wall and ceiling, a bench for the waiting area, an examination couch and of course the medicines. The clinic will mean that a qualified nurse / midwife will be available to the community every evening.

And as we sat enjoying translated conversations with some of the mothers who were waiting for their children, we were reminded that the school is about even more than nursery education and healthcare. Adult education is also an important feature of the work here, with the women we spoke to so keen to learn numeracy and literacy skills that they would like to attend five evening a week if they could (and that after a very full day caring for husband and family).