1. David Bennie
14 February 2017
Gambia Update
Sinchu Balia November 2016
Gambia update Page 1
Top: Fatou held a resources teaching day at Sinchu for teachers from 3
local schools.
Bottom left: Fatou with shelving donated by Leigh Primary School.
Bottom right: Abdoulie teaching in class

2. David Bennie
14 February 2017
Clothing Sale
Table Top sale at
Sinchu
We took out (via container) a
lot of new/nearly new
clothing and suggested they
do a sale at the school
‘We have sold out the things you left with us & we got D3130,
Marie's have listed the resources the need & we have also listed ours &
on Friday I will be going with Marie to buy them.’
‘We bought the resources needed at the moment, vanguards,
chalks, some exercise books, Javel , glues & tipex.’ Fatou Barrow
Recent Events
Well, things are getting back to normal now, and the school
hasn’t been unduly affected. The new president Adams Barrow is
installed as leader and money is earmarked from, among others, the
EU. But it will take time to filter through, so the Gambians need our
support more than ever now. Tourism is down again and badly needed
foreign currency is not coming in with them. Fatou reports that most of
the children are now attending school (98%) after the ‘troubles’.
Our next trip is 23rd February, we have 12 travellers and our
main project is installing a solar energy unit at the Sisters of Charity,
Bakoteh, but we will also be doing some work at Sinchu too. Primarily
Gill Bennie and some other ladies will be working with the teachers on
Gambia update Page 2

3. David Bennie
14 February 2017
a maths project but also we will be putting up on the walls, a TV screen
in each classroom for use with the schools laptop. We have also
supplied video/DVD players as teaching aids too. So another busy
time ahead.
David Bennie
GPO
Gambia update Page 3