KIND-HEARTED Solihull students have returned home from the Gambian nursery for which they have raised over £13,500 for this year.
A group of 25 Solihull Sixth Form College students have been fundraising for the Abuko Nursery and Lower Basic School, near Serrakunda, in The Gambia.
They spent a week in the West African nation, travelling to the school every morning to teach the four to six-year-old children.
Many of the activities that the students undertook with the children were active and visual, such as singing, craftwork, word and picture matching and there were lots of outdoor fun and games too.
Hana Mian, a year 13 student, said: “Working in the school was my favourite experience on the trip. I have never felt that my time was being so well spent as when we were doing activities with the kids.”
Fellow pupil Luke Scudamore said: “I really enjoyed the friendliness and how direct the locals were in The Gambia. I learnt patience and understanding from working with the children, as well as developing time management skills.”
Solihull Sixth Form College joined this venture, started by Hamstead Hall School in Handsworth Wood, in 2013.
The nursery school now comprises of eight classrooms with almost 300 children benefiting from the facilities.
In 2021 the nursery school was officially handed over to the Gambian Education department which ensures the sustainability of the project.
Vice principal, Janice Hamilton, said: “We had to put the trip on hold during the pandemic, but it was great to be back and to see the school and the children thriving.
“I’m proud of the work we have done over the years and every trip is a rewarding experience.
“The students worked really hard in the build-up to the trip, raising money for the school, and I am blown away by their efforts.
“All the money we have raised since 2013, more than £73,500 in total, directly benefits the Abuko Nursery and Lower Basic School and the wider community.
“This trip saw furniture purchased for three classrooms, furniture repaired for three more classrooms, a brand new printer provided, first aid and sports equipment sourced and money left to repaint the perimeter walls.
“The students also brought with them 20 laptops donated by our Summit Learning Trust and a mountain of donated teaching resources and reading glasses.”
As well as working at the school, there was time for the students to experience more of the local environment and culture.
They visited the mangrove swamps, the Bijalo monkey sanctuary, bartered at Serrakunda fish and textiles market and visited the National Assembly building in Banjul.
