Make a Difference
Sponsoring a child is a very easy way to make a difference to a child and their family in The Gambia. School costs vary but some are as little as £5 a month. This will provide school fees, 2 sets of uniforms, shoes and a bag. For the older children there is often a book bill as well. We do not pay for lunches or transport to school unless there are extenuating circumstances, for example one boy is disabled and his family very poor and cannot even afford his transport costs. The charity is currently subsidising both his fees and transport costs.
If you decide to sponsor a child you will receive a photograph and information about them, you will then receive copies of any reports from school, letters or drawings from the child at least once a year and probably more often. If you want to communicate with the young person we would suggest that you send letters or gifts through us as it can be difficult if the family contact you direct and ask for other things. Sandy is now living in The Gambia and visits all the schools and young people a minimum of once a year but often visits throughout the school year to monitor progress. Other trustees of the charity visit at least twice a year and are able to facilitate contact by letters and deliver any presents you wish to send. If you are coming to The Gambia and wish to visit your sponsored child either at school or at their homes we are very happy to organise this for you.
Currently we are sponsoring around 70 children and young people but not all of them have direct sponsors. We have many waiting for sponsorship and all of them are really needy children, often from one parent families because one parent has died and some who have no parents alive. Only this week I visited a family one of the schools had requested we help. The mother lost her husband 18 months ago in a tragic accident (he was working for the forestry and a tree fell on him), she has 8 children, 6 boys and 2 girls. Because she has so many children the husband’s family will not take care of them (as is traditional in Gambian Society). Her own family are not able to help, her mother and elder brother have both recently died. She tries very hard to educate her children and feed them by selling what she can at the local market. It is very hard to refuse a family in this kind of situation. There are many, many more families with similar stories.
If you would like any more information or would like to sponsor a child please contact us.