511 Books Arrive at Our Gambia Nursery School

511 New Books Arrive for Our Gambia Nursery School – Now We Just Need Somewhere to Put Them!

There’s a phrase we’ve found ourselves saying quite a lot over the past few years:

“One step at a time.”

Every improvement at Building Futures in The Gambia‘s Busumbala Nursery School has happened because someone, somewhere, believed in what we’re trying to achieve. This week has brought another huge step forward – and another reminder of just how much there is still to do.

511 Books Arrive in The Gambia!

Perhaps the most exciting news of all is that 511 children’s books have finally arrived in The Gambia.

Last year we successfully applied to Book Aid International, who very generously agreed to donate hundreds of books to support our nursery school. After many months of waiting, shipping and customs, our School Manager Lamin Barrow travelled to The Gambia National Library Service in Banjul this morning to collect them.

For a small nursery school that currently has no library at all, this is an extraordinary gift.

These books represent stories waiting to be discovered, imaginations waiting to be inspired and children who will, for the first time, have regular access to a real collection of books.

There’s just one small problem…

We don’t yet have a library to put them in!

For some time now we’ve been hoping to build a dedicated library and resources room at Busumbala Nursery School. These books make that dream even more important.

Our vision is to create a space where children can develop a lifelong love of reading, teachers can access teaching resources and future generations of pupils can enjoy opportunities that simply haven’t existed before.

The books are here.

Now we need the building.

The New Toilet Block Continues to Take Shape

While Lamin was collecting books, work has also continued on our new toilet block.

The front of the building now looks dramatically different thanks to the completion of the ceramic tiling across the front wall. As well as making the building brighter and more attractive, the tiles will help protect it from the weather for many years to come.

The three iron doors from the old toilet block have also now been installed in their new home, giving the building another important step towards completion.

Inside, the remaining front cubicles are now waiting only for their sinks and toilets to be fitted before they can be brought into use.

The side and rear walls have also been plastered and now just need some cosmetic finishing touches.

Reality Sometimes Gets in the Way

Running a charity is often about making difficult decisions.

Earlier this month we discovered that the aluminium roof on Classroom One and our two small office rooms had begun leaking badly. With the rainy season approaching, water was dripping directly into the classroom while the children were trying to learn.

There was no choice.

We had to divert some of the money we had set aside for the toilet block to carry out emergency roof repairs before the heavy rains arrived.

Keeping children dry and safe simply had to come first.

It does mean that work on the adult toilet at the side of the building will have to wait until more funding becomes available. We’d also love to tile the whole exterior of the building to give it maximum protection, but that’s another job for the future.

As always, we’ll get there… one step at a time.

Waiting for the Rains

Although the rainy season has officially begun in The Gambia, we’re still only seeing occasional showers.

Once the rains become more regular, Lamin will be planting more orange trees, banana trees and colourful flowering plants alongside our growing collection of Emmanuel Trees, generously funded by pupils and staff at Emmanuel School, Walsall.

Every new tree provides shade, improves the school environment and helps create a greener, cooler place for our children to learn.

Learning Never Stops

Meanwhile, life inside the classrooms carries on exactly as it should.

The children continue to work hard every day, enjoying lessons with teachers Mariama (Sibo) Fatty and Mariama (Aja) Jaiteh, while School Manager Lamin keeps the whole project moving forward.

In less than two weeks the school will close for its annual rainy season break, giving everyone a well-earned rest before another exciting academic year begins.

How You Can Help

This week’s update perfectly sums up what it’s like running a small charity.

One day we’re collecting 511 books that could transform children’s lives.

The next we’re repairing leaking roofs so lessons can continue.

Our immediate dream is now simple:

To build the library these wonderful books deserve.

If you’d like to help us create Busumbala Nursery School‘s first library, complete the remaining toilet block or continue improving educational opportunities for young children in The Gambia, we’d love your support.

Every donation, no matter how small, helps us take another step towards that goal.

Together, we’re not simply building classrooms.

We’re building futures.

Would you like to support the ongoing development of BFiG Busumbala Nursery School?

You can help us continue improving educational opportunities for children in The Gambia by visiting our Donate page or by sharing our posts with others.

Every bit of support genuinely makes a difference.

👉 Help Build Bright Futures in The Gambia | Building Futures in the Gambia

Read our last update:

👉 Rainy Season Repairs at Our Gambia Nursery School | Building Futures in the Gambia

Find out lots more about BFiG Busumbala Nursery School here:

👉 BFiG Busumbala Nursery School | Building Futures in the Gambia

And Discover 20 Amazing Facts About The Gambia at:

👉 20 Facts About The Gambia That Will Surprise You | Building Futures in the Gambia