Nursery and teacher training centre

Aim

A model nursery facility in a state school in Gambia. It will also be a training centre for transforming pre-school education nationally

The Government primary school in this typical African farming village in Gambia, one of the world's poorest states, is lifting children from extreme poverty into a hopeful and better life. For over six years, a London state primary school has partnered them with training, investment and visits. Earlier this winter, a storm destroyed the nursery buildings. International friends funded an emergency repair and put the roof back, but now we want to support a really bold next step: a new model facility for pre-school learning.

The school has trained and prepared to completely modernise its nursery curriculum. The new approach will feature discovery learning, creative play, collaboration and imagination instead of chant-by-rote alphabet songs.  Gambia's Ministry of Education is supporting this and will use the school's expertise in early years teaching, to train its new nursery teachers. So we have a chance to change a generation at country-wide scale.

The new approach needs spaces designed to encourage exploration, group working, stimulation and development of childrens' minds. Fortunately, 10 volunteer architects are donating three months of time this autumn to travel to Mbollet-Ba and work with local craftspeople (in traditional materials of course) to design and build it all in time to take pupils from 2017. We are seeking donors to meet some core costs of construction - materials, toilets, play areas. And if possible, to support additional features such as solar panels to enable training to continue in evenings. 

Supporters will receive monthly updates & pictures during the build, ideal for sharing with friends, colleagues and family, in a donor newsletter. You will have a permanent link, through yearly updates, with a community working for access to opportunity and a future not based on poverty or migration.

This project successfully funded on 24th May 2016