Look At How Far We’ve Come

A Quiet Week in Busumbala – Looking Back at How Far We’ve Come

Like much of The Gambia, Busumbala has been quieter than usual this week as families celebrate Tobaski.

So, rather than forcing a “news update” where there really isn’t one, it felt like a good opportunity to pause for a moment and look back at just how far Building Futures in The Gambia — and BFiG Busumbala Nursery School — has come.

And, honestly, when I look through some of the older photos and videos from the project, even I sometimes struggle to believe the difference.

When the School Was Still Just an Idea

There was a time when BFiG Busumbala Nursery School existed only as conversations, plans, hopes and long-distance phone calls between England and The Gambia.

At that stage, there were no classrooms.

No walls.

No gates.

No toilets.

No water supply.

No children sitting at tables learning to write.

Just an empty piece of land in Busumbala Village and a belief that something meaningful could eventually grow there.

Back then, it was difficult to imagine what the school might one day become.

The Early Days of Construction

Some of the older photographs still show the original building work beginning under the hot West African sun.

Piles of sand.

Concrete blocks.

Wheelbarrows.

Buckets of water.

And lots and lots of determination.

Those early days were never easy.

Building projects in The Gambia rarely move in perfectly straight lines. There are always delays, unexpected costs, transport problems, weather issues and moments where plans suddenly need to change.

But what stands out most when looking back is the sheer amount of community effort involved.

Local workers.

Volunteers.

Friends of the charity.

Supporters in both The Gambia and the UK.

Everyone contributed something towards helping the project slowly move forwards.

The School Begins to Grow

When the school officially opened in October 2023, it began with just one classroom, one teacher and around two dozen children.

Now, only a few years later, things already feel very different.

The school currently supports around 44 children across Nursery 1 and Nursery 2.

A second teacher joined the staff this academic year.

The school grounds are safer and more secure.

There is now running water on site.

A new toilet block has been constructed.

Trees and flowers are growing around the school.

And, perhaps most importantly of all, the school genuinely feels alive.

That may sound like a strange thing to say about a building — but anyone who has visited Busumbala Nursery School will probably understand exactly what I mean.

It no longer feels like a construction project.

It feels like a real school community.

Looking Beyond the Buildings

Of course, the most important part of the project has never been the walls, gates or classrooms.

It has always been the children.

That is what many of the older photos capture so beautifully.

Children learning outdoors before proper facilities existed.

Children sharing books.

Children singing.

Children playing.

Children proudly showing their work.

Children arriving each morning in their uniforms.

For me personally, some of the most rewarding moments are often the simplest ones.

Watching children arrive at school in the morning.

Seeing friendships form.

Hearing laughter echo across the school grounds.

Listening to them call “Uncle Peter” when they see me.

Those moments matter.

Supporters Who Helped Make It Possible

Looking back also reminds me just how many people have helped the project along the way.

Schools in the UK.

Monthly donors.

Fundraisers.

People who bought calendars.

People who donated books, toys, clothes or resources.

People who simply shared a social media post.

Every single contribution has helped move the project forwards.

And although my name often appears on these blog posts, Building Futures in The Gambia has always been a huge collective effort involving many kind and generous people both in the UK and The Gambia.

The Journey Still Continues

Even after everything that has already been achieved, the project is still growing.

There is still work to do.

The third classroom still needs to become fully operational.

The new library/resource room remains an important future target.

Security improvements continue.

The school grounds and gardens continue to develop.

And we still hope to expand opportunities for even more children in the future.

But sometimes it is important not to focus only on what still needs doing.

Sometimes it is important to stop and recognise what has already been achieved.

Because when I compare some of those early photographs with where the school stands today…

the difference is extraordinary.

A Special Thank You to Lamin Barrow

While Busumbala has been quieter this week during Tobaski, School Manager Lamin Barrow has been spending time with his family in his home village of Sankandi.

Tobaski is one of the most important celebrations in the Gambian calendar. It is a time for prayer, family gatherings, community, generosity and reflection. Villages across The Gambia come alive with colour as families dress in their finest traditional clothing and come together to celebrate.

Looking at the photographs from Sankandi this week, it is easy to see just how important family and community remain at the heart of Gambian life.

For Lamin, these occasions are particularly meaningful.

Born into a farming family in Sankandi, Lamin grew up as the oldest boy in a household with seven younger sisters. Because he was needed to help his father on the family farm, he never had the opportunity to attend school himself.

Ironically, it is that experience which has helped shape his determination to ensure that other children have opportunities that he never had.

For more than a decade, Lamin has worked alongside Building Futures in The Gambia, helping to turn ideas into reality and supporting projects that improve educational opportunities for children and families.

Today, as School Manager of BFiG Busumbala Nursery School, he continues to play a central role in almost everything the school achieves.

Whether supervising construction projects, supporting teachers, maintaining the school grounds, liaising with parents, transporting resources, solving unexpected problems or simply ensuring that the school opens each morning, much of what happens in Busumbala depends upon his dedication, commitment and hard work.

Many supporters see the classrooms, the walls, the gardens, the books and the children enjoying school life.

What they do not always see are the countless hours of effort behind the scenes that help make those things possible.

So, during this Tobaski period, it seems only right to pause and recognise the contribution Lamin continues to make to the school, the children and the wider community.

From everyone connected with Building Futures in The Gambia, thank you, Lamin.

And from all of us here in the UK, we hope you and your family are enjoying a peaceful and happy Tobaski celebration in Sankandi.

Thank You

So, during this quieter Tobaski week in Busumbala, this seemed like the perfect moment simply to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Building Futures in The Gambia.

Thank you to everyone who continues to follow the journey.

And thank you for helping transform an empty piece of land into a growing nursery school filled with laughter, learning and hope.

We still have a long way to go.

But we have already come a very long way indeed.

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

Find out what our children were doing in the week before Tobaski:

👉 Children Prepare for Tobaski at BFiG Busumbala 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