This school, like Bakalarr, is on the north bank of the river Gambia. To get to Jurunku # we crossed the river on the Banjul - Barra ferry and drove towards Kerewan for about half an hour. We then turned right, back towards the river and drove for roughly an hour along small sandy tracks until we reached the village. There is no road out through the far side of Jurunku - just the river bank - and the only links with the outside world are a few tradesmen selling their wares and one bush taxi a day to Barra. The village is in the heart of a peanut growing area and when we were there it was at the height of harvesting time.

The school was a vivid reminder of our first sight of Bakalarr school - two blocks of classrooms, a derelict kitchen and two small buildings housing one toilet for staff and one each for boys and girls, all in an un-fenced sandy square. There was a circular structure in the middle of the square, which had been a small staff-room - unfortunately the concrete pillar in the centre had broken off at the base and the thatched roof that it had supported had been destroyed, so there was now no shade.
 

the derelict kitchen	inside the kitchen
the toilets	remains of the staff room

We had come to visit this school at the request of one of our members, who met Lamin, a young Gambian, while on holiday and decided to help the school of his home village - Jurunku. The headmaster (Mr Keita), warned in advance that we were coming, had provided a list of various projects - perimeter wall, new kitchen, new toilets, fencing of the garden, provision of a well and so on. As instructed, we told him that our member wished to start with a small, trial project and would continue with further work if the results of this first effort were satisfactory. While on a tour of the school it was obvious that the classrooms in one building were in urgent need of renovation - the floors had crumbled and returned to sand and the blackboards had large holes in them.
 

one of the classrooms, showing the sandy floor
the blackboard

We left £100 with Kemo so that cement and other materials could be bought and as much work as possible could be completed by the time either our member or we returned in January or February 2005. We feel sure that Lamin and the headmaster will ensure that the project progresses well and will encourage the village community to help with the improvements to their school.
 

Pageant member Jon Quinnell has undertaken the work of helping this school.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Jurunku projects can contact Jon directly.
Email Jon or telephone him on 01689 872737