GOAL For The Gambia is a charity set up to support education and training opportunities, primarily for young people in The Gambia. The charity was set up in 2006 after a holiday in The Gambia. Fundraising initially started for a nursery school. This soon escalated and sponsorships were offered to individual children. Charity status was applied for and gained UK registration in August 2008. We are now also registered in The Gambia.
One of the charities trustees, Sandy, is now living in The Gambia and regularly visits the projects and the sponsored children. If anyone wants to visit any of the school projects or their sponsored child it is now easy to facilitate this. We are currently sponsoring 85 young people through different stages of education from nursery to University.. There are still many more that are desperate for the opportunity to receive an education.
We currently have two school projects we are fundraising for. One is a school in Brikama which was in desperate need of rebuilding. There were two buildings consisting of deteriorating corrugated roofing and woven brush wood walls. We have completed the first stage of our project with one brick school building consisting of 4 classrooms and two offices. We have also provided three toilets for the school. Please see the schools page for more information and up to date progress. The second project is a nursery school in Basori, the building there is very good but there were no funds to pay any staff. We now pay 3 teachers, a head teacher and a cleaner partly through the generosity of sponsors and the balance is paid from charity funds. 130 children now attend the nursery and receive three years free education and school uniform. The school had no resources and so far we have provided pencils, exercise books, chalk, rubbers, rulers, pencil sharpeners and footballs and reading books that were donated by Twickenham library. We are fortunate that many visitors bring stationery, sports equipment and first aid supplies which mean of course that the charity no longer provides funds for this. We have also provided toilet facilities for this school. Check out the schools page for more information. Sponsorship starts at £5 a month for a young child in nursery education, rising to £15 as they progress through the different levels of education. Sponsorship includes all school fees, uniform and books. Before the Charity agrees to sponsor a child, we will meet with the parents/guardian and school to ensure total commitment and support from all parties. We will supply regular updates to the Sponsor, which will include school reports and photographs. Along with Sandy, the other trustees make regular visits to The Gambia and we monitor progress of the child throughout the year. We will be happy to act as a link if the Sponsor wishes to build up a friendship with the child and their family.
The cost to sponsor a teacher at Basori Nursery is £25 a month. We are still in need of sponsors to either contribute towards a teacher’s salary or fund one entirely.The aim of the Charity is to financially support the young people throughout the different stages of their education and bring some stability to their life. We will guarantee that every penny that is given through sponsorship or by donation will go to the young people in The Gambia. Any charity administration costs will ONLY be taken from the money raised through the Gift Aid Scheme. If you would like to sponsor an individual child, teacher or make a donation to help facilitate educational opportunities within The Gambia please contact us.