Report on our activities in The Gambia – Fall 2024

Dear friends in Europe and Africa, dear sponsors and members,

We, Hella, Malve and Monika, have now been in The Gambia for almost three weeks. The temperatures in the first two weeks were a real challenge with 37 degrees every day, and in the sun and in the car they often rose above 40 degrees. After the rainy season, we also had to contend with bugs and other insects

Improving the learning conditions in Labakoreh

The core of our commitment for almost 25 years has been the financing and maintenance of the school in Labakoreh. Thanks to your support, this has been possible so far – thank you very much!

During the first visit to the school, the teachers expressed the wish for fans in the classrooms to make lessons more bearable in the high temperatures. The cost estimate was around 2,500 euros. Together with an electrician, we bought the necessary material from a DIY store, which cost us 142,625 Dalasi. By Friday evening, two fans had been installed in each classroom as well as lighting in the room of Mr. Jawara, teacher and security guard at the school. The power is supplied via the school’s existing connection and the follow-up costs of around eight euros per month are manageable.

On Monday morning, we surprised the children and teachers with cooler classrooms – the joy was great! The teachers reported that many children wanted to stay in school longer after lessons to enjoy the pleasant temperature.

Support for pupils and students

23 older children received the school fees financed by our sponsors. They proudly showed us their certificates before they were paid out. Three young people in vocational training were also supported. Abdoulie and Fatu, the two adult students, were particularly pleased to receive two new laptops donated by a dedicated colleague from the association – a valuable aid for their studies.

Help for families and medical facilities

Another focus was on supporting sponsored families in the village. Food and gifts brought along brought great joy. The families‘ prayer of thanks for us and the sponsors was a moving moment.

The nearby hospital also benefited from our support: two wheelchairs and other aids were handed over.

Sporting donations

The footballs, soccer boots, jerseys and other equipment donated by sports clubs from Schwaan were a highlight. The teams in Labakoreh and our preschool were delighted.

Further projects

The repair of the roof construction of a classroom has been successfully completed and preparations for planting the women’s garden are in full swing. The seeds are already in the ground, covered and protected.

Thank you for your support in making this work possible!