Lisa Kent Memorial Nursery School
The Lisa Kent Memorial Nursery School is for Christian and Muslim children aged 3-7 years old, situated in a village in the South Kombo area of the Gambia.
The Head Teacher is Aljuma Camara (Pa) and he has three teachers, who teach 154 children split between three classrooms. Fatoumatta Baldeh, Ramatu Bangura and Kadijatou Jallow.
The school was first opened in 2001, under the name of AC Nursery School, as a result of Pa sitting on a road side near his compound and seeing lots of children loitering around.
"I asked information about them and found them not even enrolled at school. I called a meeting with the parents and talked to them about starting a new school for their children, which they really wanted. Then we joined hands and made some mud blocks and started the building. It was ready within two months. I started with fifteen children."
Originally there were five nursery schools in the area, now there are only two and demand for places is high.
We met Pa in October 2002 and visited his school, a traditional mud building. As a result of our visit the Trust supported the rebuild of the school in modern materials on an adjoining site providing a water supply which was previously collected by Pa's family from the village pump 500 metres away.
After four years of gradual development the school now has three classrooms, toilets and showers, a Headmasters office and store. In early 2007 electrical power was added, which will allow the opportunity for the school to be used for adult evening classes to support the local villagers.
In addition we set up a sponsorship programme for the children in most need of help. This is now extended to other schools and we have 150 children sponsored with a long list of children waiting sponsorship. The parents are extremely grateful for the help which provides their children with an education that would not otherwise have been possible.
£60 a year will pay for a child school for an academic year, provide their exercise books and pencils and also their uniforms.
The name of the school was changed in January 2005 in memory of Lisa Kent, who died very tragically in December 2003, as she loved children and they all loved her.
The Lisa Kent Memorial Nursery School Football Team
