Each year we have a CIRCUIT PROJECT on the go, so that we think beyond our small part of Wales and step out of our box as it were and into another. This year we are supporting
Yiriwa Nursery School in Jamisa, Brikama
in The Gambia
Jamisa Nursery
Before retirement Mary’s brother and his wife Sue taught in Northampton. Sue had a colleague called Gordon. When Gordon was a student he visited The Gambia as part of his dissertation. One evening he and a fellow student found themselves in Banjul at a charity fundraising event run by the United Nations. They left early to return to their rather seedy lodgings and were subsequently mugged and had their camera, money and passports stolen. They were helped that evening by Louis, a local policeman. The following morning they were woken by loud banging on their door, feeling rather uneasy they opened the door to find Louis outside. He had decided their accommodation was totally unfit and he took them both to stay in the village where he lived with his family. The family were very hospitable to them both but once Louis had sorted out their difficulties they were able to return home but unfortunately lost contact.
A few years later Gordon, by then a teacher, returned to the Gambia with a party of schoolchildren. Chatting to his guide one evening he mentioned Louis and talked of his previous visit. Remarkably enough, Louis was known to the guide and the following evening they were reunited.
Gordon has been extremely kind and supportive to Louis (who is now married with children of his own) and his family over the years even helping him to build his present house, where the nursery is currently sited. Louis has named his second daughter Angelica after Gordon’s wife, his son after Gordon and his youngest daughter after Gordon’s mother.
Louis was becoming increasingly worried about the number of children in Jamisa village who were unable to attend school, so in 2004 a group of teachers from Northampton including Mary’s brother and his wife set off for the Gambia with a view to setting up a nursery.
In 2005 the nursery was opened and has continued to grow ever since. Mary and Tony visited in 2006 and at that time 80 children were attending each day. Since then another classroom has opened but it is still being run from Louis’ house. Last summer we heard that a plot of land, near the existing nursery had become available to buy for £2600. Nervously Phil (Mary’s brother) emptied the fundraising account and sent the money off. We all held our breath until news came that the sold sign was up and they were all dancing in Jamisa.
Since then the Penarth Methodist Circuit has been involved with the fundraising. £1750 has already left the circuit account for the Gambia where some has been used to buy building materials. Currently our balance is around £500. In mid January a text came from Louis to say he was very busy making cement blocks, later that day we heard that 2000 had been made!
Mary and Tony are setting off once again early in February and are taking gloves just in case they need to help with a little building work! They will be taking further money with them including the teacher’s salaries. You too can help with their visit by supplying lightweight goodies for them to take, such as pens, pencils, felt tips, chalk, balls, skipping ropes, pencil sharpeners. They will take lots of photos and hopefully a video to let everybody know how our project is progressing.
Watch this space to see how much we have raised so far...over £1,750 and rising.
