BFiG Busumbala Nursery School – The History
A Community-Led Beginning
Building Futures in The Gambia (BFiG) was registered with the UK Charity Commission in 2014, but the roots of Busumbala Nursery School lie firmly in community partnership.
Busumbala is an expanding semi-rural locality, situated approximately 3km from Makumbaya and Bafoloto Quarry. As the population grew, so too did the need for structured nursery provision. Families faced limited access to early years education — and it was clear that something needed to change.
Through a series of meetings with the Busumbala Village Development Committee (VDC), chaired by the Alkalo and the Imam, it was agreed that BFiG would be granted permission to work in collaboration with the community to build a nursery school. From the outset, this was never intended to be an externally imposed project. It was — and remains — a community-led initiative operating in conjunction with BFiG.
The original vision was ambitious and clear:
A three-classroom nursery school for Nursery 1–3, alongside offices and toilet facilities. The land allocated to the project was initially described as 30m x 60m, with the site subsequently revised to approximately 40m x 40m.
Formalising the Partnership
In 2015, before construction began, a formal Memorandum of Understanding was agreed. This was signed with members of the Busumbala Village Development Committee, the Permanent Secretary for Education and the local National Assembly Representative, the Honourable Mr Lamin Jatta.
These meetings laid the foundation for a project grounded in accountability, transparency and long-term sustainability. The school would not simply be built — it would operate within national frameworks and in alignment with Gambian educational policy.
Evolving Responsibility
In 2022, the Village Development Committee stepped back from direct oversight of the project. Since then, BFiG and the local community have fully managed both the continued construction and the day-to-day operation of the school.
School Manager Lamin Barrow oversees the project on the ground in The Gambia, coordinating construction, staffing, safeguarding and community relationships.
He works in close partnership with Peter Kendrick in England, who manages UK-based governance, fundraising, safeguarding oversight and strategic development.
Together, they lead the project across two countries with a shared commitment to transparency, accountability and the long-term sustainability of the school.
What began as a shared construction vision evolved into a locally sustained educational institution — supported by UK donors but rooted firmly in Busumbala itself.
Opening the Doors
In October 2023, Busumbala Nursery School officially opened with:
- One completed classroom
- 24 pupils
- One teacher — Mariama (Sibo) Fatty
For the first two academic years, pupil numbers remained steady at around 28. Sibo carried the entire teaching responsibility with dedication and resilience.
By the third academic year (2025–26), growth made expansion essential. A second teacher, Mariama (Aja) Jaiteh, joined Sibo, and enrolment rose to approximately 44 pupils. Aja took responsibility for the youngest children, while Sibo taught the older class.
The fourth academic year (2026–27) brought another important step forward. The school opened its third classroom and, on 21 September 2026, welcomed newly qualified Gambia College teacher Muhammed Lamin Drammeh, known as Mo Lamin. He joined Aja and Sibo to provide teaching across Nursery 1, 2 and 3. By early October 2026, the school had 41 pupils enrolled, with numbers continuing to rise.
The school now employs:
- Three teachers — Mariama (Aja) Jaiteh, Mariama (Sibo) Fatty and Muhammed Lamin Drammeh (Mo Lamin)
- Nanny Mero, supporting the children’s daily care and welfare
- School Manager Lamin Barrow
Continuing the Original Vision
The original ambition of a three-classroom nursery school became a reality in September 2026, when the third classroom opened. Work continues to furnish and equip the new teaching space and develop the school further.
Boundary-wall and gate improvements have strengthened security, with further work still planned. A new four-cubicle toilet block and soakaway have replaced the old toilet facilities, while a ramp and improved paths make the site more accessible to pupils with mobility needs. The grounds are being cleared, planted and developed, with space for gardening and agriculture as part of the Gambian curriculum.
In January 2026, the arrival of 511 donated books from Book Aid International gave the school a valuable foundation for its future library. BFiG has now secured funding from Hazel’s Footprints Trust to build a dedicated library building, giving children a place to read, learn and make regular use of these books.
BFiG Busumbala Nursery School stands today as proof of what can be achieved when a community identifies a need and works in genuine partnership to meet it.
From early village meetings chaired by the Alkalo and Imam…
To a signed Memorandum of Understanding at national level…
To a growing nursery school filled with laughter, learning and possibility…
This is a project built on collaboration, resilience and belief in the right of every child to education.
Find out more about the charity here:
👉 About Us | Building Futures in the Gambia
