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UK volunteers intensify support to Bakau Newtown school

Feb 22, 2016, 11:10 AM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

A team of UK volunteers through The Gambia Art Project based in the UK are currently intensifying efforts to continue supporting Bakau Newtown Lower Basic School.

The volunteers are making efforts to support the school with learning skills, fencing the garden, renovating the toilets, provision of text books, among others.

The Gambia Art Project is funded by ‘Shears Foundation’ in the UK and it is operating in collaboration with Affecting Real Change, a registered UK charity operating in The Gambia.

Speaking during a visit of the volunteers, the headmistress of Bakau Newtown LBS, Haddy S Njie, commended Affecting Real Change for the organisation has been helping the school a lot in terms of infrastructure through the renovation of toilets and fencing the school garden.

The headmistress said the organisation has plans in the pipeline to support the school with a borehole.

Mrs Njie noted that since the friendship between the school and the organisation started about four years ago, the school has gained a lot from the foundation.

She expressed hope that the relationship between the school and the foundation will grow from strength to strength in improving the standard of education at the school.

Musa Saidy, secretary general of Affecting Real Change, said the charity has been working in The Gambia since 2002 helping public schools and government hospitals.

He said the team of volunteers from the UK was at the school purposely to improve the learning skills of the children in the area of arts and craft.

“Already, the team of volunteers has done so many drawings and paintings with the children in classrooms,” he said.“They will endeavor to paint and decorate classroom blocks as well as the school library.”

The trip of the UK volunteers is funded by Shears Foundation, a charitable organisation in the UK that supports students and ventures in the field of arts and craft.

The team leader, Elicia Morgan said the rationale behind the trip was for the volunteers to help schools in The Gambia in the area of painting, drawing, among other teaching works.