Children First- Education 4 Gambia

The purpose of this campaign is to raise money for two schools in Serekunda, The Gambia (West Africa).  Carter Basic School serves about 1,500 students and John Pickering School serves about 1,612 students.  These schools are experiencing challenges in providing 1) water, 2) textbooks/books,  3) adequate furniture (desks, chairs, bookshelves, cabinets; tables and chairs for teachers), 4) Dry Erase Boards (schools are trying to eliminate Black Boards because the dust from chalks are causing health problems for teachers), 5) just to name a few, for their students. 

One of the most urgent concerns in this area, especially for Carter Basic School, is providing water for children while they are in school.  For example, although Carter Basic school is connected to the town's water system, the school receives very little to no water because the water pressure is very low.  As a result, children go through the school day without water to drink, to wash their hands, or to flush/ clean the toilets.  This school also serves children as young as 3 years old.  In addition, some of these students are not given money to buy lunch because their families cannot afford it.  It is not uncommon to find children trying to learn without water or food in 100 degrees Fahrenheit condition. No child should have to endure this kind of hardship to receive an education when there is a solution to this problem.

The solution to this problem is installing a Solar Pump-Water Well system that pumps groundwater to the surface. This solar pump system is cost-effective, low maintenance, and sustainable.  Here are a few examples of what it would look like and how it would benefit the students:
 



During my visit to The Gambia in July 2018, I was inspired and impressed with how much the teachers and school administrators are able to do for their students, with very little money and resources.  For example, teachers often pool their resources to pay the tuitions of their most disadvantaged students.  Many Gambians practice this motto daily "I learned to give not because I have so much but because I know exactly how it feels to have nothing."  (Quote displayed in Mr. Fofana's office, in The Gambia)  The educators of this beautiful nation are already doing their part in helping themselves and their students, I would love for us to further support them with this endeavor. 

Here are the Estimated Costs to further assist the above schools in Serekunda:  
1) $2,000 for textbooks/ books.
2) $3,000 for Solar Panel-Water Well
3) $3,000 for furniture (desks, tables, chairs, bookshelves, dry erase boards).

On behalf of the children, teachers, and administrative staff of The Gambia, I thank you in advance for your generosity, donations, and support.  Please share this link/ campaign with your friends and family members so that we can achieve this goal.  Thank you.