WITH the first group of this year’s Project Gambia now home it leaves group two to get the same experiences in the rest of their week.

Yesterday the group split into three with the students each heading to one of the schools in Kutosilo – Half Dye, Kanifing and The Methodist Special School.

Daisy Narrowmore, Ridgewood High School head girl, was one of the students who visited Half Dye and she has written a blog post detailing her experience.

“This morning I went to Half Dye to do activities with some of the school children.

“It was very unusual to be there in different classrooms to last year whilst they are having their new school built. I was so shocked to find that they have to fit over 50 children in these three tiny rooms made from pieces of iron and wood.

“We did singing, dancing, face painting and bracelet making which the children thoroughly enjoyed. They were all so happy to see us there. Afterwards we went for a walk around the compound to distribute some hats and jumpers to the smaller children.

“The mothers were so pleased with the clothes we were giving them, the smiles on their faces were priceless.

“After lunch back at the hotel we went back to Kanifing to finish the painting of the Grade 5 classroom and some went to do the finishing touches at the clinic. I spent the afternoon drawing scientific diagrams on the wall to help the children whilst others focused on numbers and phonics.

“It had been an extremely tiring day, yet it was amazing to stand there and look at the classroom afterwards knowing that we had all contributed.

“So far it has been a fantastic experience and it’s great to think how much we have already done to help some of the people in The Gambia.”

Each day the project is out in the Gambia, a member of Project Gambia will write their own blog post detailing their own thoughts and experiences.

Blog posts and daily information on the trip will be available on both the Stourbridge News website and at projectgambia.org.uk.

Today the group will be heading back to the village of Sintet, which this year is being given added support from The Stourbridge News after the News joined forces with Project Gambia to help raise money to buy and install a water pump at the village farm.

Our Well of Life appeal needs to raise £10,000 to fund the pump and irrigation system to serve drought-stricken farming land.

While visiting Sintet today the students will get the chance to see the location of the impending installation of the much needed pump.

To make a donation to the appeal visit www.justgiving.com/welloflifeappeal/ or text PROG15 and your amount, either £10, £5, £4, £3, £2, £1, to 70070.

People can also donate cash or cheques in person at the Stourbridge News offices, at St John’s House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Cheques need to be made payable to Project Gambia Trust Ridgewood, and you’ll need to write Well off Life Appeal on the back.

If you are carrying out an event to help raise funds for the Well of Life Appeal please call our reporter Dan Sharp on 01384 358223, or email dan.sharp@stourbridgenews.co.uk with details.