HUNDREDS of children from across Stourbridge have played their part in helping to create a lasting memorial to a little Gambian boy whose tragic death led to the launch of our successful Well of Life appeal.

Eight-year-old Mustapha fell to his death last year while trying to reach water from a well in his home village of Sintet – a loss which inspired us to join forces with Ridgewood High School’s Project Gambia initiative to buy the village a solar-powered water pump and irrigation system.

To mark the recent installation of the £11,000 life-saving pump, funded by Stourbridge News readers, we launched a competition asking Stourbridge primary schoolchildren to create a plaque for the well in memory of Mustpha.

A total of 292 entries flooded in - meaning the panel of judges, which included Stourbridge MP Margot James, Project Gambia leader Bev Hodt and Councillor Ian Cooper (Dudley Council’s children’s services cabinet member), had a very tough time deciding the winner.

Mrs Hodt, Ridgewood’s assistant headteacher, said: “I would like to thank all those pupils who took part in the Well of Life plaque competition.

“We did not expect to receive so many entries and the standard of posters was extremely high, making it so difficult to choose.”

The winner chosen by the panel was Rufford Primary School pupil Sharna Stevens, aged 11, who scooped a Hudl2 tablet, courtesy of appeal sponsors Tesco.

Ms James said: “I was delighted to be asked to judge this competition. The amount of entries from schools all across the borough is testament to the good will of both students and staff to commemorate the sad loss of a young life.

“I am proud to support such a fantastic initiative.”

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Sharna’s winning design will soon be turned into a plaque and placed on the well when Project Gambia team fly out to the country in March.

Mrs Hodt added: “A highlight of our trip next year will be putting the winning plaque onto the pump.

“Mustapha's family are extremely thankful and moved by the fact that people in another country, who have never met them, wanted to do such a thing.”

The six runners-up, who also received prizes donated by Stourbridge’s Tesco store, were seven-year-olds Connie Blower and William Nock, eight-year-old Alysia Bryce, nine-year-olds Orla Bickley and Millie Millard, and 10-year-old Yasmin Fellows.

Wayne Barker, Stourbridge’s Tesco store manager, said: “We were really pleased when we were asked to support the Well of Life appeal.

“A number of fundraising activities have taken place in and around our store for the appeal, including bag packs and event days, so we were more than happy to provide the prizes.

“It has been a wonderful appeal which has really brought together the Stourbridge community.”

Pete Wallace, Stourbridge News assistant editor, who was also part of the judging panel, added: “We were overwhelmed with the number of entries we received for the competition and narrowing it down to a shortlist, let alone choosing a winner and runners-up, was immensely difficult as the standard was so high.

“Our thanks go to every child who took part in the competition, and our congratulations go to the winner and other finalists.”

All 292 entries have been put in our Mustapha’s Well of Life Gallery which can be viewed by clicking here.