Project Bush School
In December 2009, Explorer Scouts, Scout Network and leaders from Cambridgeshire joined others from various parts of the country to spend four weeks over Christmas in Jiroff, a village near Soma in the Gambia. They are working alongside local Scouts to refurbish a derelict building. The building was previously a school built some 20 years ago by Venture Scouts; new school buildings are now on the site but there is an urgent need for accommodation to encourage teachers from the capital to work in this remote area.The team flew out on 8 December 2009, returning in January 2010. Despite camping, cooking on open fires and having very limited facilities they did not forget Christmas!
Early September they sent a container out to the Gambia with tools, building materials, non-perishable foods and many other items – all items both new and second-hand were donated to the expedition. Each member of the expedition raise £1,500, not only to cover the cost of air travel, tentage, food and insurance, but also to pay for items purchased locally and employing, where necessary additional skilled labour to complete the project thus helping to support the local economy.
The Gambia is one of the smallest and poorest countries in Africa. It is a peaceful country with a democratically elected President. It is a member of the Commonwealth and has a population of approximately 1.3 million. Having in excess of ten tribal languages it has designated English the national language. The country has no mineral wealth and relies on its cash crop of groundnuts, tourism and aid for its income. The average family survives on less that £150 per annum. A bag of rice lasting a family two weeks costs £10. Unemployment is high. Despite the hardships that life throws at them, the Gambians are a friendly, vibrant people and great fun to be with.
For more information please contact Jane Warren.
Email: jane.warren@tesco.net
