PAGEANT - "Education is the future"

Pageant projects in and around Banjul

home

projects

news

links

contact

sitemap

Abuko

children sitting four to a desk at Abuko school

Abuko (aka Aboko) is a small village about 25 km south of Banjul, on the way to the International Airport. It is close to the famous Abuko Nature Reserve.

Abuko Lower Basic School [MAP] was started recently as a local initiative, so that the village children did not have to travel 5km to the nearest school. Pageant members Vic and Jackie Edwards have taken on the organisation of Pageant's help for this school. The school is also twinned with Ridgemede Junior School in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, which regularly raises money to help the school.
(see our
Ridgemede page)

Busumbala

Busumbala (aka: Busumbata) [map] is a village about 25 km south of Banjul, not far from the International Airport. Pageant has been helping a Women's Group in this village for about two years.

Many women in The Gambia have not had the opportunity of an education, so Pageant is funding literacy and numeracy classes.

Busumbala women work on a large piece of fabric to prepare it for dying

Campama Lower Basic School

new desk unit for Campama LBS

Campama Lower Basic School [MAP] in Banjul was in urgent need of essential maintenance and renovation. Pageant had already got its toilets fixed, and has now funded locally produced desk units like the one shown for the children. To equip all four classrooms would cost about £3,000. So far Pageant has helped to equip two Grade 1 classes with the new desk units, using funds raised by Brian Howard Mayoral Fund 2006-7, the The crew of Bandit, who are took part in the 2007 Azores and Back Ocean Yacht Race, and Steve Pitman's 2007 half marathon. The Grade 2 classes have been provided with desks and chairs by Manor Green Primary School in Crawley. This is all reported on our 2nd Campama page.

Gunjur Environmental Protection and Development Group (GEPADG)

The GEPADG works to achieve long-term, sustainable solutions to poverty in The Gambia through reversing the current destruction of forests, mangroves and coastal ecosystems. It is based on the Atlantic coast, and is staffed entirely by Gambians motivated by their desire to protect and enhance their natural environment. Pageant works with GEPADG in promoting Ethical Gifts which aid their work.

For further information, see our GEPADG page or the GEPADG website.

Wheelbarrows being used by GEPADG volunteers

Serekunda

top of page >>

children at Yakanu Nursery

Serekunda (aka: Sere Kunda, Serrekunda, Jeswang) is a large urban area, adjoining Banjul Island, and is considerably bigger than Banjul itself. Pageant is helping Alex Odell and her friends in a project to build a new school for the Yakanu International Nursery [map] in Serekunda.

There is a video clip of the children of LIFE Nursery School in Serekunda. See the video clips index.

JJT Nursery School  is also in Serekunda. Aris Harrison-Price has made helping this school her personal project, enlisting help from many schools, organisations and individuals in and around Leicester. In 2005, this school had over 130 pupils, with just one teacher and a dilapidated  classroom. Aris has organised redecoration, arranged the building of toilets, provided educational equipment and funded a new teaching assistant.

Serekunda is also the home town of Pageant's agent Wandifa and of many of Pageant's sponsored children.

Twister

classroom at Mahmoud Achten Nursery School

Mahmoud Achten Nursery School is located in Fagikunda a suburb of Serekunda. John Emery and Jane Bull have been helping this school since February 2007, and have achieved some great improvements. A lot still needs to be done, such as building a new roof, repairing the walls, replacing the school fence, providing teaching aids and providing funds for poor children whose parents cannot afford to the modest school fees.

Sinchu Baliya

top of page >>

Sinchu Baliya (aka: Sinchu Dula Balia) is close to Serekunda. There is a huge primary school, of around 3250 pupils, which received four microscopes in 2003 (see details) and has run several microscopy competitions. There is a well established Science Club (see news item), and a new Resource Centre was built with funding from Pageant members Linda Murgatroyd and Chris Hyde.

Boys inspecting the car

the library at the Resource Centre

We reported progress in April 2005 (see details and pictures), and by November 2005 the centre had been completed (see pictures). In February 2005, there was a presentation of prizes for another microscopy competition (see details and pictures). Team Ibrakeforcake in the 2007 Plymouth Banjul Challenge made Sinchu Baliya their own special project, raising £1200 for the school.

Saloum Nursery (Nemakunku)

Nemakunku (aka Sareh Mowndeh, Mauwhunda Kunda) is a village about 20km South of Banjul, and about 8km from the International Airport. Pageant is providing support for Saloum Nursery School.

Shap Ahoy, one of the teams in the 2006 Plymouth-Banjul Challenge, raised over £4500 for Saloum Nursery.

This is another school, where Vic & Jackie Edwards are active, and they have overseen many improvements, including new and renovated classrooms, new furniture, a new kitchen and new toilets.

Saloum children using their new furniture

King's Kid Academy

top of page >>

Headmaster Mr Jacob Amadi

The King's Kid Academy (KKA) is located in Temasu, near Lamin, south west of Banjul. It was founded in about 1996 by a Nigerian missionary, to provide nursery education. The school has expanded year by year, and will eventually offer a complete primary education up to Grade 6. There are two Pageant pages. The first page covers 2006-2007, and the second page covers 2008 onwards.

Nearly £3600 was raised for KKA by two teams in the 2007 Plymouth-Banjul Challenge - Desert Mice & First to the Bar!

A link has been set up between KKA and Trafalgar Community Infant School in Horsham.

In July 2008 students from Oakham School and Copenhagen International School are planning to build new toilets. (see details)

Wesley School

Wesley School, also in Banjul, was visited early in October 2004. Their main problem was an inadequate kitchen. Pageant member Andrew Rattray has decided to fund the renovation of the kitchen by his own efforts, because his mum, dad and uncle all went to Wesley Methodist Chapel in Launceston, Cornwall.
(
see details). The kitchen has now been completed (June 2005).

children being served their meals from a temporary outdoor kitchen

Other Banjul Schools

top of page >>

Pageant members Brenda and Keith Farrington have taken a particular interest in some schools in Banjul. In October 2003 they visited Crab Island School, Greater Banjul Senior Secondary School and St Augustine's Senior Secondary School, as well as the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital to see computers donated by Oxford Instruments (see news item)

computer lab at Crab Island

a student using  the Trekker microscope to look at a prepared slide

For further information about all the schools and educational institutes which Pageant is associated with in The Gambia, please look at our Schools Index page.

 

Pageant is a UK Charity - Registered No 1093963

 back to top of page >>