The work of The BEA
Sponsored Students
In our first year, 2008-2009, we sponsored 30 students at the senior secondary school in Bansang.
Currently we sponsor 49 students in grades 10-12, covering ages from 16-22, as the age children start school varies. Government support has changed over the years and our sponsorship has adapted to this. We initially sponsored children across upper basic and senior secondary school level. Since 2018 education at upper basic level was covered by the Gambian Government so we have focussed specific sponsorship at senior school students only. Upper basic schools are supported through provision of equipment, materials and projects as are lower basic schools.
School teachers become quickly aware of students suffering particular financial hardship and identify those showing promise in their schoolwork.
New students apply in writing to the appeal and produce evidence of their circumstances and performance in school.
Students from the previous year who have performed well in exams automatically continue with our sponsorship. However due to the great need for support, if students perform poorly, without extenuating circumstances their scholarship is given to someone else to benefit.
The students receive either sponsorship where any fee due to the school is provided along with necessary materials, this covers fees, uniform, school bags, textbooks, extra study classes, school education trip and reading and writing materials. Students struggling the most financially also receive money for lunch each day during the school term.
This is decided on by staff in the schools who are aware of individual circumstances.
Two of our Sponsored Students
Mohammed Salieu Jallow is one of our new students in grade 10, and is aged 21. He was an apprentice in a shop but decided to take himself back to school. He is keen to better his education, studying the technical stream subjects.
Both his parents have died and he has to pay towards his living costs as well as school fees.
Kumba Susso is aged 16 and in grade 10. She comes from a village called Kossema but has been living in Bansang with a relative for a few years so she can attend school.
She is studying the science stream and hopes to become a soil chemist. Her mother remains in her home village and sadly her father has passed away so sponsorship is making her school like a lot easier.
Other Projects
Where we are able to help with local projects at schools around Bansang we will. This has been supported in the past by linked schools in the UK and currently by our own fundraising efforts.
As BEA trustees are not on the ground often in Bansang and internet connections are poor, projects can take time to complete as monitoring them can be difficult.
Despite this we have funded the development of an IT block and provided computers for this at Bansang Senior Secondary School, funded staff accommodation and improved security at Mabali Kuta School, renovation of the library at Bansang Upper Basic School, renovated staff accommodation at Sololo Basic Cycle School, contributed to the building of Agape Nursery School and the completion of a kitchen at Sukuta Lower Basic School.
Classroom building across the region is currently funded by large international NGOs. We have helped with smaller renovation projects: concreting dusty floors at Daru Lower Basic school, renovating damaged blackboards at several schools in the area, improving access to drinking water by providing containers and cups in classrooms and preparing taps at water pumps.
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Agape Nursery School
This school had been using a temporary classroom and church building for 10 years but in the 2015 with support from BEA, Galleywood Infant School and Empower The Gambia a permanent nursery school building was built in the grounds of the church in Bansang. The school is no longer dependent on our support and has grown into a lower basic school where those who can afford it locally send their children to school.
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Bansang Educational Appeal raises money through regular giving, donations and fundraising events