Loading...
Visit by Headteacher from Kafuta School in The Gambia
After much planning, arranging and waiting for visas, Buba Sibi arrived in England on the 22nd March 2011 for a weeks stay. This was the first time out of Gambia so just getting to us was an experience in itself for him. My husband and I met Buba at Gatwick airport and took him to a nearby hotal were we spent the night. This was Buba's first experience in a lift, and I listend to my husband trying to explain how it worked by likening it to a cupboard which moves up and down on pulleys and makes your tummy feel funny! Little did I realise how many similar conversations we would have over the coming week. We returned to Plymouth by train, another first. Buba was amazed by our rail network - something which does not exist in The Gambia. On the way his questions were endless - as we travelled through Teignmouth he remarked on the floating footballs, these were of course bouys.
We arrived at Plymouth Station and had a ride home in a Hackney Carriage - letting many cabs 'go' in preference of taking a traditional London style taxi. On arrival at home Buba was surprised to find us living in a house with 2 storeys, my husband showed him around and demonstrated how things in the bathroom 'worked'. We took Buba to school at the end of the afternoon for a welcome cream tea which was attended by staff, governors and others with an interest in 'the link'. This was documented by the local newspaper. During the week Buba spent time in most of the classess at Manadon Vale Primary School, he taught numeracy to year 3's - using the interactive whiteboard. He attended staff meetings, a school quiz evening arranged by the PTFA and joined some staff and their families for a meal in a local resturant. He also visited All Saints Accademy and Devonport High School for Boys. Every where he went he was trated like a celebrity!
During the weekend we took Buba to the local shopping mall - we rode up and down escalators and lifts with glass walls. We walked through the city centre to the pannier market where I explained that we do not barter over prices here as Buba would at home. (we took Buba to a car boot sale to show him just about the only place where we may barter for goods) We then visited the local museum, Buba was particularly interested in the information on the Blitz and also the history of the lighthouse. We enjoyed a pasty whilst walking along the Barbican where we showed Buba the local fishing boats. Much different to the dug out canoes used in Buba's village. Next was Plymouth Hoe and ice-cream whilst looking at the lighthouse. Although a little nervous Buba joined the whole family and climbed to the top where we could point out many famous landmarks. We travelled across the moors where Buba was intrigued by the remoteness of some houses - although villages are remote in The Gambia you would not find a house built alone. We travelled across the Torpoint Ferry into Cornwall and back using the Tamar Bridge, the age of many of the things - bridges etc seemed to really surprise Buba, the fact that we have had these things for so long.
We finished the visit with an interview at Radio Devon - a first for both of us. This was a busy tiring week with so much packed in, I really enjoyed discussing so many everyday things which we so aften take for granted. We gave Buba a photograph album of his visit to take back with him as he said so many of his friends would not believe his stories. I felt that I noticed more differences between our cultures when he was here than when I visited him. He was amazed to see women doing 'men's jobs' as he puts it, things like driving buses or lorries or painting walls, he also did not like to see women smoking in the street. I tried to explain that men and women are seen as equal here. This was a fantastic experience for all concerned and in my opinion reinforced the fact that neither lifestyle or culture is better - just different!
Dawn
Woodford Junior School - Somita Lower Basic School
The visit to the Gambia provided a real insight into life in a country which is striving to provide an education for its children without the economic privileges enjoyed by children in the UK. It also raised questions about the quality of life in both countries and what values are really important.
On arrival in the Gambia we were amazed to find that some of the schools’ staff and pupils had come to the airport to meet us with a banner to welcome us to their country. They were so friendly and genuinely pleased to meet us and very keen to establish links with their schools.
We spent the first two days in the capital Banjul where we explored the markets, the people, the towns, the transport, the countryside and got a general ‘feel’ about the country we were visiting. The people were all very friendly and made us feel very special, even finding us seats to watch the arrival of the President on his tour of the country.
The following days were spent in the school where I was made to feel very welcome and everyone was very happy to answer my endless questions! During that time I totally immersed in their culture and was able to:
The visit has been very powerful in raising my awareness and knowledge of the Gambian culture. Back in school I have given a presentation to both teachers and teaching assistants and have set up a display to inform parents about the visit. Children have been directly involved in the experience both in preparing materials for me to take to the Gambia and responding to letters sent back from the Gambian children. This has been an invaluable experience for them as they have seen work started by themselves completed by Gambian children and the pictures, resources and information I have brought back has had a direct impact on their understanding of the privileges they enjoy that are taken for granted. Hopefully this is just the start of a valuable and worthwhile project for both schools. We have identified land use as being a focus area for development, with the children sharing information about land use in their country and working together to set up projects to improve land use within both school environments. This will be of benefit to both schools as the environment at Woodford is changing with the amalgamation of the Infant and Junior schools into a Primary school and in the Gambia they are interested in improving the use of their grounds both in terms of the areas provided for the children and the crops that they are able to grow within the school grounds. This links in well with the current curriculum at Woodford but will add a powerful and dynamic dimension to the children’s learning by exchanging information from real pupils living in a culture vastly different to their own. The work on this has already started and we plan to exchange information and ideas approximately every 4 – 6 weeks.
During our stay we were also fortunate enough to visit the Regional Director of Education. This visit highlighted the importance they place upon the value of these links and it was agreed that the Headteachers would remain in post at their current schools for the duration of this project. It is normal practice in The Gambia for teachers and Headteachers to be transferred to different schools as needed and without prior notice.
Jenny Gledhill -Woodford Junior School
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Austin Farm Primary School - Sibanor Lower Basic School
On my arrival at Banjul Airport I was met by the Headteacher and some of the staff and pupils from Kafuta Lower Basic School with whom our school had been linked. The children and staff had waited a long time for the flight to arrive and for me to collect baggage etc. The welcome was quite overwhelming and after a long tiring journey it was amazing to meet the people with whom I would be spending the coming week. The excitement and enthusiasm was obvious to us all, I knew I couldn’t wait to get to know these people better. Prior to my visit I had discussed with the Headteacher and teachers at Manadon Vale curriculum areas where we could fit in an international project, our initial decision was for the children in England in a specific year group initially to each compile a questionnaire to be sent to a year group at Kafuta for their completion. On discussion with the Headteacher it seemed that his staff had had much the same discussion. It would seem inappropriate though to link specific year groups as the children for instance in our year 3 would be the same age as the children in grade 1 at Kafuta who are just starting their school career and do not have as strong a knowledge of the English language as the older children. We decided that on receipt of the questionnaires the Headteacher would choose the age group most appropriate to complete them and also to write their own questionnaires to return to the children at Manadon Vale. This would seem a good start to the link for the children and the information exchanged would be shared with the rest of the school and staff.
I spent time with the Grade 1 teacher – a potential link has arisen from this opportunity we shared teaching and as we marked and assessed the children’s work together a real bond was formed between us. She had a beautiful way with the children and used songs, jokes, visual, experiential learning in her teaching. I have collected photos of the children and professionally we looked in a positive way at how I engage with the children and how Wonto engages—we both found that we could learn songs from each other and share our curriculum. I have since sent some teaching resources out to Wonto to aid her teaching with Grade 1 and she is in the process of putting some songs together for me to teach my class. We also looked at a small area of marking and how the children respond to positive marking e.g. smiling faces children loved them when I added hair and ears etc. Although the language was a barrier for some we played lots of singing games and sang songs involving body parts and repeating words.
The visit wasn’t quite what I expected. I went with the intention of strengthening links with an African school for the benefit of the children in both The Gambia and the children in my school. On the final day I made it explicit that my priority lies with the children in both schools and how they can learn from each other with any other benefits being a by-product of a successful link.
Both schools have decided to write information books about their own countries and culture. This in turn will assist the children’s learning of each other’s culture. Whilst in school I explained to the Head that I would teach as much as he would like me to. I taught both independently; in order for members of staff to observe and as part of a team. These techniques were to demonstrate teaching techniques in the UK as the staff and Head expressed a real desire to develop as professionals. The school were really keen to implement group working, like we do here in the UK. I explained how we do this but that we have massively smaller classes and much more support. I did suggest that they try to differentiate tasks so that some groups could work on tasks individually in order for the teacher to work with a group. I’m doubtful that this will be taken on board as they felt very reluctant to move away from a “chalk and talk” method of teaching.
I was extremely affected by my visit to The Gambia far more than I think I, or any of my friends, family or colleagues could ever have imagined. I really do want to help these people and have discussed with the relevant people in school how we can make a difference. We have discussed some fund raising activities to help pay for a garden to grow some vegetables to supplement the free rice the school gets for those children who cannot afford a school dinner.
My experience in The Gambia has changed my life immensely. Due to the extreme poverty and challenging nature of the trip it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable experience but it is one that I wouldn’t change for the world. I have met people who have touched my life and people I will stay in contact with for a very long time.
Paul Thomas - Austin Farm Primary School
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Holy Cross RC Primary School - St John Vianney School
The initial link wished to develop the curriculum for the children through projects and sharing of information. Since visiting our partner school the Head and I continue to see potential for the link to develop our curriculums for the children thro ugh projects and to grow along a professional development path and also in a ‘trade-off’ of resource sharing within the link, with the children at the heart of all the actions we wish to carry out. We would like to develop the children’s relationships with God on a spiritual level so that we can also work together through our faith.
I have brought back a variety of artefacts from The Gambia as well as photos, footage to share/disseminate with the pupils and the staff. As the technology facilities are scarce in St John Vianney School and there is no power I was able to take a laptop to the school using a battery to share footage with the pupils. I also recorded a play that the older children had put together and this enabled the pupils here in Plymouth to watch footage of the Gambian children performing a play and songs.
I led an assembly for the school on a non-pupil day, the children and staff came into school especially to welcome me and this was followed by a staff inset. The assembly enabled me to make the initial link with the children and a discussion relating to a ‘Rivers project’ and letter writing was the first action tackled. The children were inquisitive and asked many questions relating to children in the UK. I found I needed to be extremely thoughtful with all my answers as I knew it could be difficult to visualise a place so far away and how British culture is different yet in some respects having similarities. (As the week in school progressed I soon found that the children in St Vianney School hold similar aspirations as our own regarding careers and prospects, music, adolescence etc).
I visited the children and their families in the village. They all knew I was coming to the village and everyone was so welcoming and shared their food with me, invited me into their compounds and introduced me to their family members. The community feel and spirit was amazing and this is something I wish to share with the children at Holy Cross.
In Grade 8 I did some PSHE work we all did little pictures of our families and I stuck them up in their class the children loved this activity an opportunity to talk about their families and count how many brothers and sisters in the compounds. They loved having their pictures put up and the sticker I gave them. The teacher commented on how I interacted with the children visiting each child at work getting down to their level and the child centeredness of my approach.
This visit has been totally valuable. I have also begun to raise money and funds for the development of the teaching out in The Gambia and the Head and myself feel that this project should empower the children and develop their understanding equally. Therefore the children at Holy Cross are raising funds and collecting resources to send out and the children at St John Vianney School are utilising their skills to make a trade with us for the resources. I have also approached the four teachers that came out to The Gambia too and they have agreed to be part of this joint project.
As a staff here at Holy Cross we wish to enable the Headteacher of St John Vianney, an opportunity to work alongside our teachers and through observations and conferencing with the staff and children we hope to give him opportunities to experience and reflect on teaching and learning practice in his school in The Gambia. We have discussed a focus on Phonics, language, speaking and listening as a key area for development in St John Vianney School. This opportunity will lead to staff development training in The Gambia.
Foundation Key Stage 1 wish to begin a project related to recycling as part of our Eco-Schools initiative and as an opportunity to find out about how both schools can work together to recycle in each location. Projects we envisage will develop, change and progress overtime and we are both commited to ensuring a long lasting and sustainable relationship between the two schools for the benefit of the children which will continue for many years to come and on a personal level I believe this will be achieved.
Leah Bartram- Holy Cross RC Primary School
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Woodfield Primary School - Faraba Banta Basic School
The main objectives of the visit:
To set up and start to develop a link with a school in The Gambia which will be of mutual benefit to the two linked schools.
An initial fact-finding “mission” to gather information to enable the practitioner to engender an increased level of understanding of global issues within their own school community.
To establish effective working relationships between the link practitioner from the UK school and the staff at the Gambian school.
Specific outcomes, including timescale for implementation:
Mechanisms for Evaluation and Dissemination
The successful outcomes of the link will be measured in terms of:
Future plans for the development of the link
At the moment, the link will be developed mainly through letters between pupils and interested staff members. The link would be strengthened by the visit of staff from the Gambian school to the UK facilitated by a successful grant application to the British Council.
A return visit to the Gambian school by the UK practitioners would further develop and strengthen the link. The pupils at the UK school will be asked for their views and ideas with regard to possible fundraising to support the Gambian school’s request for resources.
The successful outcome for communication between the two schools will depend on the Gambian school being able to afford the cost of postage to the UK. The use of e-mail is problematic for the Gambian school as there are no facilities at the school to send or receive e-mail communications. In order to do this the Headteacher visits the nearest town which involves additional travel expense. However, Mr. Dawda Faye, the International Co-ordinator for the Catholic Education Secretariat in The Gambia, has offered his help to facilitate communication between the two schools.
Kim Manners - Woodfield Primary School
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manadon Vale Primary School - Kafuta Lower Basic School
Further links to the curriculum which we have discussed are our ‘rivers’ project - as Kafuta is near the river many of the families are dependant on this for both their income and to feed their families. It would be interesting for our children to learn the importance of this way of life. We also have a garden at our school, although it is small it is an opportunity for the children to learn first hand how things grow and what is needed to maintain healthy plants. In Kafuta the school also has a garden, in comparison to ours this is huge and the vegetables grown are used to supplement the childrens’ diet. Their biggest problem is goats who get in and destroy the plants, ours would probably be slugs! We would let the children take photographs of what they have grown and keep a record of their findings, this could in time be exchanged and comparisons could be made.
During my visit I was taken into peoples’ homes in the village. I was also made welcome at the local kindergarten and the secondary school (who are also keen to find link schools in England). I met the village elders who questioned my intentions quite thoroughly before making me an honourable citizen of the village. On the last day the Mandinka Village Chief (Ali Kalo) came to share food with me and present me with a certificate on behalf of the school in honour of the start of the link. I am at present looking to apply for funding to arrange for a visit to our school by a member of staff from Kafuta. I am sure this would be an exciting time for both schools and communities involved and would do much to reinforce community cohesion.
Dawn Cowin - Manadon Vale Primary School
------------------------------------------------------------
Holy Cross Primary School - St John Vianney School
In May 2009 I went out to The Gambia to visit our Link School - St John Vianney School, Bulok. The visit was to enable the relationship between both schools to be strengthened. For a link to be strong, equal and beneficial on both sides, many staff and pupils need to be involved. At Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Plymouth we sent out little books made by the children, that covered information about a day in the life of a child at Holy Cross. We also sent out recipies for pasties and scones and photos of children Morris dancing. As the link has developed, St John Vianney School have also tried to send projects surrounding their school, culture, local dishes etc. It has been difficult for the school to send projects to us as many parcels take a long time, get lost in the post and are expensive to send.
During my visit to the link school, I was struck by the Principal's humbleness and his vision for the school. A very different experience compared to the reaction I have had towards poverty elsewhere in The Gambia. During my time there meeting local villagers, children and staff I felt a sense of such warmth and welcome that I find difficult to put into words.
A Container
On my return to the UK I felt it necessary to send out some resources to support the school with their learning - I knew this was something to be very wary of for a number of levels. As the weeks and months passed, the sending of some boxes turned into a 40ft container of resources donated from people across Plymouth, and nationally, as I rolled out press releases to the local paper, radio, church magazines, runners, bowlers etc. requesting resources.
Sending out Charity
I would suggest that anyone with a link should establish a mutual and equal relationship based on sharing children's work and professional development. Be very wary of charity to a link school as it is not always an outcome like my own experience. I have been to other schools in The Gambia and India and seen resources taken away from children, resources not used as they have been considered too precious or not suitable for the children in that setting and resources being sold with the profits lining the pockets of people not intended to recieve the resources. I have been able to liaise with the Catholic Secretary in The Gambia for support with the container process and I have always maintained that the children and staff at St John must feel empowered throughout the process to enable the equality of our relationship to be maintained.
Therefore a trade of resources for a local skill was asked for by myself. The resources in the container were clearly thought out to be beneficial and useful within the setting, bearing in mind there is no electricity, over 900 pupils in the school, long distances to travel and that the commuity is of a farming nature. Therefore I sent out a number of practical items such as bicycles. These were shared out by distributing one bike between five children - one child would ride to school each day on the bike. Other items included sewing machines for teaching skills and to potentially sell what is made; tools for teaching a manual trade, aftefacts which can be sold to put money back into the school, material and buttons for counting/patterns etc. Maths/English/Science study aids and resources, library books, tables and chairs, pencils, paper, notebooks (two per child throughout the school year), chalk, rubbers, penail sharpeners (essential after seeing six year olds using razor blades to sharpen their pencils) trainers and sports equipment such as footballs as well as much more. The container arrived in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, in December 2009. I have had a great deal of liaison with the school and when one of the Catholic education staff came to the UK, our school gave him a camera to record and evidance the container arriving.
Returning to The Gambia
In December I went back to The Gambia with a Plymouth University field trip to help out the resources in place. I was overwhelmed by the response from the school and village; everyone had been made aware of all the resources arriving and the school and village know exactly what resources there are - they are being out into classes very quickly and distribution according to the needs of families and the curriculum. During the visit, I spent time with the Principal and his family and was warmly welcomed in the school. To trade for resources, the children sang and danced, they also presented me with a beautiful piece of batik with hundreds of love hearts on it. I had the opportunity to teach while I was there and, professionally, this made me really think on my feet with little resources and 45 children in each class. This was also a chance for the staff at St John Vianney, and in a couple of other schools I visited during my time in The Gambia, to reflect on their own practice and learn from me too.
Reciprocal Visit funding
In November I applied to The British Council for Reciprocal Visit funding and I have been informed that our application has been successful. The Principal for St John Vianney school will be coming to Plymouth this year. We still have the visa process to go through but hopefully this will not take too long. The staff at Holy Cross will be looking after the Principal and he will gain an opportunity to establish a greater understanding of the education system in England and be totally immersed in the English culture.
The Future
As our link strengthens, it is hoped that a different member of staff from Holy Cross will visit The Gambia using the Reciprocal Visit funding to support professional development. I have decided to complete my Masters and base this professionally on an independent project regarding the experience of linking with a school in a developing locality. I have been asked by a variety of agencies to write and discuss my experience with audiences. I have met some wonderful and interesting people from The Gambia as well as people working on projects from the UK based in The Gambia. My hope is to return to The Gambia and St John Vianney school later this year.
Leah Burch - Holy Cross Primary School
Reports from Visits to Plymouth
Visit by Ebierre Gomez (St John Vinney School) to Holy Cross Catholic School (May 2010)
Ebierre Gomez, Headteacher of St John Vianney School in the Gambia joined us for a week in May 2010. Leah Bartram-Burch, our International Leader, met him and a colleague at Gatwick Airport and showed them the sights of our capital city before bringing them to Plymouth. We all thoroughly enjoyed the week together, sharing experiences and gaining a greater appreciation of the differences in culture, in facilities and in the learning environments.
Ebierre was given a tour of the school where he spoke very well to each class about where he comes from and what his school is like. He was impressed with the depth of questions from the children and their 'orderly' conduct. The children marvelled at the way his school tackled tasks that we take for granted - no electricity, class sizes of 50, very few books and writing material. They couldn't believe that the children went home if it rained. Well, the concept of rain only coming during certain months is difficult to comprehend here in Plymouth!
Ebierre then addressed the whole school at an assembly and his main message was to thank all the children for their efforts in raising money and helping collect items that were put into the container. It was a day to remember for their entire community when the container arrived in the village. The impact of all the various items has been tremendous. Having furniture, for instance, means that children can be taught in groups and the books have meant individual reading is possible.
Paul Cotter - Holy Cross Primary School
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit by Kemo Bah to Woodfield Primary School (May 2010)
We were delighted as a school to welcome Kemo from the Faraba Banta School in the Gambia to help lead our school for a week during May 2010. The experience was a complete eye opener for both Kemo and all the staff and children at our school. Kemo is Head of a school of nearly 1000 pupils from age 6 to 15 in a village in the centre of the country and one of our first experiences together was to look at his school and his journey to work on Google Earth. This brought home the power of technology to shorten borders and remove boundaries to international understanding in a very concrete way. For Kemo it completed a number of firsts, first flight, first escalator and first train journey to visit us.
Kemo runs his school of nearly 1000 with 30 staff and the full range of issues that affect us in the UK, from child protection - to attendance - to Government testing. The children were factinated to meet with and speak to Kemo as he spent one hour of his week in each classroom, watching the style of teaching and responding to questions from them. It really was a two way dialogue with Kemo learning a lot from the children and the children learning a lot about life and challenges in another country. Kemo also joined in our interview for a new deputy head post, watched presentations from the candidates and gave us his view on suitability for the post. He attended a Governors meeting and again listened, but shared his thoughts on some of the issues affecting our executive committee, finance is always an issue wherever you sit on the globe! He attended a Global Citizenship Conference and was a great example to all course participants of the reality of crossing international borders and the gains for both sides. We also walked to school with the Deputy Lord Mayor as it was 'Walk to School' week. Kemo shared with parents and children that many of his pupils walk 3 to 4 kms a day to get to school. On the same day we visited the Tag rugby festival at Marjons and Kemo was very impressed and excited at the wide range of schools coming together to enjoy and compete in such a great atmosphere.
Sadly the week quickly passed however we are still in communication regularly by phone and the school are currently strengthening our links with his school and considering a wish list he has left with us which includes helping with classroom furniture, solar panels and a consistent power supply; new computer equipment and possible support for staff to continue their higher education. What he left with us was a deeper understanding of education in another country and a genuine wish for our children to build on the link and more fully understand other countries issues. Within the context of tolerance, understanding and genuine partnership I feel our children will be the bigger gainers in these essential life skills
George Muirhead - Woodfield Primary School
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plymouth Schools Linked with Gambian Schools
Report of the Coordinator's visit to Devon (March 2010)
Having been selected as Coordinator for Global Partnerships in the Gambia in April 2007, was the start of yet another turning point towards a learning process in my life.
An initiative of the British Government, the aims and objectives of the Global School Partnerships is to bridge the cultural gap between the children of the United Kingdom and those of other cultures most especially in developing countries. The partnership is about acquiring knowledge, understanding, adding value to and acceptance of each others' ways of life (culture) through curriculum and exchange visits. This will enhance quality relationship with each other during interactions.
As a result, reciprocal visits have since begun between the linked partner schools at the level of school head teachers and/or other teachers coordinating the link from both the United Kingdom and the Gambia. It was based on this premise that the Coordinator for the links in the Gambia be invited to visit partner schools in the United Kingdom to gain first hand information about how the links are progressing and also to gain knowledge on how local authorities in the United Kingdom manage schools.
After a well spent weekend, I travelled to Plymouth to meet Mrs Jill Bailey, the link Coordinator in Plymouth linked with Gambian schools. The first school to visit was Woodfield Primary School linked with Faraba Banta Basic Cycle School in the Gambia. During my stay, I interacted well with the Headteacher, Staff and pupils. Moving from one class to the other enabled me to gain insight into classroom management, teaching and learning materials and equipment available in developed countries. On the same day, I attended a joint meeting in the Plymouth Education Centre. This was a meeting I was privileged to attend to enable me to learn and gain experience on the way authorities of the area discuss schoo issues most especially inspection reports, assessment etc.
I then visited Woodford Junior School who are linked with Somita Lower Basic School and met with the Headteacher, teachers and students. I spoke at a school assembly about life in The Gambia as well as visiting classes. During visits to Holy Cross Roman Catholic School linked with St John Vianney's Basic Cycle School in The Gambia and Manadon Vale Primary School linked with Kafuta Lower Basic School in the Gambia, I interacted with Headteachers, staff and pupils. In each of the schools, I had question and answer sessions with pupils guided by school link coordinators and other staff members. These sessions were very interesting as it helped some of the students clear their doubts on information they recieve about Africa and the Gambia in particular.
I then visited St Boniface Roman Catholic College in Plymouth. A well equipped College, I went round the institution and saw almost all the facilities. I also had a discussion with the Principal of the College on possible links with one of our Roman Catholic Schools in the Gambia. On the same day, I was able to meet, discuss, learn and collect worthwhile edcuational materials, specifically on assessment techniques used in schools in the United Kingdom. It was a very fruitful though short session but I was given so much knowledge to digest and will try to apply some of the good practices in our own setting.
I would like to thank everyone involved in my visit for their kind hearted welcome.
Dawda Faye - International Coordinator, The Gambia