Project Gambia was set up by former Headteacher and now freelance consultant, Neil Griffiths. Its aim is to support and oversee the education and welfare of children in a pre-school in the town of Gunjur in The Gambia. This West African country has few natural resources, the average life expectancy is 45 and many families survive on one meal a day!

See the latest information, 2009 Project Gambia Update.

After a visit there in 2005 Neil witnessed at first hand the difficult conditions that school children endured. Three boys sharing a pencil, sitting on a log on a muddy floor in a barren brick classroom 'moved' him greatly. However, he couldn't help but be 'touched' by the staff and children's, enthusiasm, energy, optimism and warmth.

Under the guidence of the Marlborough Brandt Group, a charity based organisation which has supported the town for over 25 years, it has been possible, so far, to fund one pre-school - the TARUD School.

• The school has six classrooms, a new hall, staff room, toilet block, play area and playground.
• 230 children aged from 3-7 years of age attend, all of whom are provided with a uniform.
• The children are taught by qualified teachers (who have been trained in The Gambia) and work in well resourced and colourful classrooms.
• The children are also given a meal at lunchtime as World Aid has pulled out of The Gambia.

The school costs £6,000 a year to run, which all comes through kind donations and fund-raising initiatives.

At a recent conference held in the town a working group was set up to create a Gambian based curriculum, (the first of its kind), focussing on child centred principles and African tradition. It will emphasise the first language of Mandinka and the rich culture of the country. At this conference attendees drew up plans for the future of the school and it was decided to begin supporting up to five tiny neighbouring pre-schools, all with poor and limited resources. It is the intention to create a 'cluster' of supporting schools that will share resources, training and expertise.

However, all this needs additional funding, so if you feel you or your establishment would like to help in any way big or small, we can guarantee that every penny raised will go to the children. The funds are taken direct to The Gambia and all expenditure is overseen and accounted for. So if you would like to help, then please contact us.

Any kind donations made by cheque, should be made payable to Project Gambia. In return we will update you regularly on progress, inform you of where and how the donation was spent and let you know how to contact the schools directly and write to the children if you would like.

• £25 will pay for one child's annual education.
• £10 will pay for 150 dinners.
• £3 will pay for one child's dinners for a year.

Please do think about helping, as a little can go a long way and help change lives for the better.