Sohm Schools Support newsletter June 2017

 Curriculum Area Investment Reaps Rewards

EACH year we try to improve the equipment in under-resourced areas of the Senior school's curriculum, in Sohm.

As a result of generous donations in previous years, we have, for example, established a fully functioning ICT suite there, added significantly to the science laboratory equipment and provided key text books in all curriculum areas.

This year, we extended the process by purchasing technical drawing equipment for the school, including a number of Tee squares and set boxes, as well as specialist drawing paper - some of which can be seen in the accompanying photograph.

Senior school principal, Mamadou Manneh,  with some of the technical drawing equipment  donated.  We look forward to improved exam  performance in that subject in future years

It is most heartening, therefore, to see the longer term benefits that these investments bring, years after the initial intervention.

Three years ago, our friends at Football Gambia and Kit Aid supplied over 60 sets of football kit to the school.  These are being well used.

Successful girls football team,  kitted out thanks to Football Gambia  and Kit Aid, two great UK charities

We are delighted to report that the girls' senior football team at the school made it through to the quarter finals of the national schools' football championship.  The photo above illustrates them wearing donated kit. 

It is unlikely they would have entered the competition without the donation of the kit, and they certainly would not have looked so ready for action as the photo shows them to be.

Similarly, two years ago, we re-equipped the schools' domestic science kitchen with new cooking utensils - a priority determined by the school. This is important for the pupils as it gives them a grounding that help gain them access to the national catering college - and into important tourist industry jobs.

Ready, Steady Cook - Sohm girls  at regional cooking finals

This year the Senior school got to the final of the regional schools' cooking competition. Unfortunately, they were disqualified from the final, for adding a Maggi cube (similar to Oxo etc) to the stock in their entry for "Preparing a National Dish".

A delicious dish - too much Maggi, however!

It was done in good faith, for as one of the girls said "Well, that's what we do at home!".

Great to see that small seeds sown in curriculum areas can bring such rich rewards two or three years afterwards, once the investment has had a chance to percolate through to the students learning, and wider performance and experience.

Quite apart from the skills enhancement these initiatives have brought, they have encouraged (in this case, all girls) to broaden their horizons and to participate in events beyond the confines of the village.  These social experiences are, in themselves, important for students living in relatively remote communities.

So, once again, many thanks to our donors and supporters for enabling us to facilitate these small, but important steps to improve the education and experience of the young people of Sohm

 

John Walker 07954 153 305 Gambia stuff: www.SohmSchoolsSupport.org.uk @GambiaSchools Forest Gate stuff: www.E7-NowAndThen.org, @E7_NowAndThen