About Friends of Bintang Bolong School (FOBBS)

In February 2003, Pat Puddephatt and Janet Jacobs went on holiday to The Gambia. Having done some research about the country before going, they knew that pencils and paper and essential teaching materials were desperately needed by local schools, and so took some supplies with them.

Not wanting to go on an organised trip to visit a local school – as the same schools always benefit – they asked their taxi driver for suggestions as to a school that would really benefit from the supplies. He arranged a meeting with Alhagie Lama Jammeh, a friend from the village where he grew up, who was now the Headmaster of Bintang Bolong Nursery School in Tallinding Medina, Serrekunda. The Headmaster was very grateful for the gifts, and Pat and Janet were introduced to the pupils, staff and members of the local community, who all gave them a warm welcome.

They were so appalled by the conditions and lack of basic facilities and learning materials that they decided, on their return, that they would try to raise some money to help the school. To read more about the conditions at the school at that time click here. With their friend Angelika Fibi, they set up Friends of Bintang Bolong School (FOBBS). In April 2005, FOBBS became a UK registered charity.

Future Plans

It is very encouraging and rewarding to see the new school up and running. However, the school is already oversubscribed and many new prospective pupils are being turned away on a daily basis. It has an excellent reputation – not just because of the facilities, (which are still very basic when compared to European standards) but also because of the excellent teaching staff and the management of the school.

We would like to build a fourth classroom to accommodate the increasing number of pupils at the school and this is what we will be fundraising for in 2008.

 

 

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There are so many people we wish to thank for their support (financial, moral, physical and emotional!) during the past five years – too many to name. But, without them, none of this would have been possible. A special mention however, goes to Debbie (PixBytes) who has designed and maintains this website for us.