PAGEANT - "Education is the future"

Artwork on the boundary wall at Bakalarr School

The boundary wall around Bakalarr School was completed in July 2003. Since then, Ousman F Sowe, a Grade 9 pupil, and the teacher in charge of art & crafts have decorated the wall around the school with numerous pictures - turning it into an incredible art gallery. (more of Ousman's art) and (Exhibition in Horsham)

Pippa and Ian report after their visit in February 2004:-

"When we drove towards the school from the village, the first thing we saw was the wall, which had been decorated along its outer surface with panels of paintings. The effect was stunning - the pictures were striking and varied in subject - they included the school crest, maps (The Gambia and Africa), health topics, animals and aspects of school and village life. The paintings had been done by one of the boys in Grade 9 and a member of staff and were obviously a source of great pride to the headmaster, staff and all the children. Three green-painted metal gates had been set into the walls - two small single gates in the side walls for pedestrian access and one pair of large double gates in the front wall for vehicles. We were delighted to see this evidence of extra effort that had been put into making the school a more exciting place in which to teach and study."

view of Bakalarr school from the approach road showing the boundary wall surrounding the school grounds

The view from the road as Pippa and Ian approached the school in February 2004

The headmaster stands by one of the side gates >>
Mr Giteh, the headmaster, stands in one of the gateways in the wall
the wall is covered in paintings - this panle has the message 'Welcome to Bakalarr Baisc Cyle School' the two artists, Ousman and the art teacher, stand on either side of the painting on this panel which is the school badge
A welcome  from the teacher in charge of art & crafts The school badge flanked by the two artists
Ousman stands alongside his painting showing two pupils on their way to school this panel shows two stylised figures and slogans emphasising education for all - especially women and children
Painting of some pupils Motif emphasising the desire to educate the female portion of the population
wall panel showing a map of Africa wall panel showing a map of The Gambia, with the regions in different colours
A map of Africa, and a very detailed map of The Gambia
a painting showing pupils clearing up rubbish with the message 'keep the environment clean' a painting of mops brushes and other tools for keeping the environment clean
A message about keeping the environment clean, and the tools to do it
painting showing a fish, a lizard, a snake and a crocodile a painting showing some deer grazing under some trees
Some of the animals found near Bakalarr
this painting shows a man cutting down a tree, destroying the homes of birds and animals Kemo holds a microscope, in front of a large painting of a microscope
The disruption to animal life when trees
are cut down		 A microscope like those donated by Pageant,
with Kemo holding the real thing in front of it
this panel has the message 'The microscope shows us that germs are everywhere where there is dirt, rubbish and human & animal waste this panel describes what AIDS is, with the message 'abstain from sexual promiscuity'
Using a microscope reveals the sources of infection. An important message about prevention of AIDS.
a panel about safe water, showing water coming from a well, being boiled and then covered

AIDS is not a serious problem in The Gambia at present and there are many posters in towns and villages about prevention, in an effort to keep it that way.

 

<<An important message about safe water
use well water rather than water from the river,
boil it and keep it covered

back to main wall page >>

More of Ousman's art >>

Ousman's exhibition in Horsham >>

 << more Bakalarr projects

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