A Day at Busumbala Nursery School

It’s just another day at BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia—but when you look a little closer, it’s a powerful reminder of what community, education, and determination can achieve.

Today, School Manager Lamin Barrow and teacher Mariama (Sibo) Fatty have shared fresh photos and videos, offering a window into daily life at our growing, charity-funded nursery school.

📚 Learning in Action

Inside our classrooms, Nursery 1 and Nursery 2 pupils are working hard as the academic year enters its final term. Under the guidance of dedicated teachers Mariama (Sibo) Fatty and Mariama (Aja) Jaiteh, children are building the foundations that will shape their futures.

Gambian Children in a Classroom at the charity funded BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia.

Looking ahead to September 2026, we have a clear goal:
👉 open our third classroom and employ a third teacher

This is the next crucial step in expanding access to early years education in Busumbala—but we can only make it happen with your support.

If you’d like to help fund a third teacher, please visit our donation page or get in touch.

👉 Donate | Building Futures in the Gambia

🚽 Smart Savings, Ongoing Needs

Our new toilet block is taking shape beautifully—and we’ve managed to save money by reusing doors from the old, now-derelict building.

It’s a great example of how every pound is stretched as far as possible.

The old toilet block at BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia.

However, one thing is still missing:
👉 a fourth door for the staff toilet

If you’d like to help us complete this essential facility, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Donate | Building Futures in the Gambia

The new toilet block at BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia.

🌱 Growing More Than Just Plants

Across the school grounds, our young trees are thriving—and so are the children caring for them.

Gardening is a key part of the Gambian curriculum, and pupils are actively involved in watering and nurturing these plants. Right now, staff are carrying heavy buckets from the tap in intense West African heat—a tough daily task.

Gambian Nursery School Children Standing in Front of their Trees at BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia.

But help is on the way.

Once the toilet block is fully operational, we’ll install a hose system connected to the water supply, making irrigation far easier and more sustainable.

These trees—kindly donated by Emmanuel School in Walsall (UK)—are already making a difference, and we are hugely grateful for their continued support.

🌺 A Splash of Colour and Care

Our bougainvillea plants are growing rapidly, bringing life and colour to the school environment.

Lamin will soon begin training them along the boundary wall using ropes, creating a vibrant, welcoming space for pupils and staff alike.

And this is just the beginning—because, as teacher Mariama Fatty keeps reminding us…
🌸 “We want lots of flowers!”

Bougainvillea at the charity funded BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia.

🔒 Keeping the School Safe

As the school develops, so does the need to protect it.

Once construction work is complete, we’ll be adding broken glass along the top of the perimeter wall—a common and necessary security measure in The Gambia.

It may sound harsh, but it’s about safeguarding the resources, facilities, and opportunities that have been built through generosity and hard work.

And I’ll take this opportunity to again thank Albert Pritchard Infant and Wood Green Junior Federated Schools for their work supporting the construction of our wall…and Matthew Wilmot, of course.

🥘 From Garden to Plate

Meanwhile, our school garden—lovingly maintained by School Nanny Mero—continues to flourish.

The School Garden with Onion and Hibiscus at the charity funded BFiG Busumbala Nursery School in The Gambia.

She is currently growing:

Onions
Hibiscus

Both are staples in Gambian cuisine. Hibiscus is used to make wonjo, a refreshing and nutritious drink, while onions are a key ingredient in dishes like benachin—a favourite across The Gambia.