The forgotten children

The first time I set foot inside the Methodist Special School in Kanifing, honestly, it just knocked the wind out of me.

Picture this: over 200 kids and young adults, some can’t walk, some can’t speak, some just learn a little differently. And still, they’re grinning. Cracking jokes. Doing their best. They show up, even though life’s stacked against them. The reality? They live with heavy poverty, a ton of stigma, and, let’s be real, almost zero support for people with disabilities in The Gambia. When they graduate, it’s like the world just shrugs and turns away.

This school? It’s pretty much all they’ve got. And “got” is a stretch.

The classrooms are packed, seriously, you’ll see kids sitting on the floor because there aren’t enough chairs to go around. That one school bus? Rusty old thing, always on the verge of quitting for good. Half the time, it’s out of commission, which means a bunch of kids are just stuck at home. Teachers? They give it their all, but the pay is rubbish and they barely have supplies.

Had a chat with Mr. Kwasi Mensah, the Deputy Head. What he said just stuck:

“There’s nothing for these children after school. No jobs. No care. No support. So we keep the doors open, even for our ex-students in their 20s and 30s. ’Cause if we don’t, who will?”

That’s not just being nice, it’s survival. The Gambia doesn’t have adult care, doesn’t have welfare, doesn’t have real job prospects for people with disabilities. This school is their one safe spot. Their anchor.

And let’s not sugar coat it, loads of these kids come to school hungry. Some families can’t even scrape together 10 Dalasi, that’s, what, less than 20p?,for bread. The school cook? She’s dipped into her own pocket more than once to feed them. And sometimes, there’s just nothing. Still, the kids turn up. With hope. With these massive smiles. Wishing, just wishing, for something better.

So, here’s the ask: we’re trying to raise £5,000. That’d fix up the classrooms, build a safe and child-friendly playground for the kids, buy proper books and supplies, make sure everyone gets a hot meal, and help out the older students who literally have nowhere else to go.

Doesn’t matter if you can give a lot or a little. Every bit helps. And hey, if you’re broke like most of us, sharing this story is huge too, maybe it’ll land with someone who can chip in.

Let’s keep the school open. Let’s prove to these kids and young people that somebody out there cares. Together, we can give them what every kid deserves, safety, dignity, and a shot at hope.