The Jataba school in Serakunda, Gambia can actually hardly be called a “school”. On the compound of one if the bigger families from the village the 70 students - between 4 and 10 years old - get their school lessons under a tree.
The Jataba school in Serakunda, Gambia can actually hardly be called a “school”. On the compound of one if the bigger families from the village the 70 students - between 4 and 10 years old - get their school lessons under a tree. During the rainy season this is impossible and the lessons are cancelled or the teachers try to cram all children in a small shed nearby.
The Dutch Louise Marinus – a nutrician advisor in a Dutch hospital who already built two other schools in Gambia – decided to build a “real school” in Serakunda using her own time and financial funds to realise this. She donates part of her salary to her projects and also teaches the children hygiene and AIDS-prevention during her frequent visits to the schools. The ground for the new school is donated by a family from the village, the floor has already been laid and a make-shift roof is in place, but for the next step: the walls for two classrooms and the creation of two toilets Louise lacks the funds, mainly because – due to medical problems – she doesn’t work at the moment and therefore earns less than before.
As soon as the needed amount of 1750 Euro for the materials is raised, the building can be finished quite fast. The local community is very motivated and will help building. The teachers – including an English teacher – are available and also able to teach more children. Staff expects the number of students to reach 150 when the building is ready. The children pay a tuition fee of around 1,50 Euro a month; enough to cover the salaries of the teachers. The first two schools that have been built by Louise – 4 and 2 years ago – are doing fine.
Total amount needed: 1750 Euro
