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Information:
Education is the best, most important gift we can give children.
It is the tool to open doors, to provide opportunities, to
enable them to reach their potential. Every child deserves
the chance of an education.
But it’s not always that easy. For many children school is
out of reach because families just can’t afford to send them.
Without an education, the cycle of poverty and struggle will
continue down the generations.
 The
Lisa Kent Trust was set up in 2003 to work with the Gambian
people (it is a registered charity in both the Gambia and
the U.K. with Trustees in both countries) to provide good
quality schooling.
In the last fifteen years the Trust has made great strides
and continues to develop and reach more children who otherwise
cannot afford to go to school. The first achievement was building
a nursery school of three classrooms for children aged three
to seven. The official opening was attended by the local dignitaries
– and, no less, the Head of the Gambian Early Childhood Development
Department!
The school is now bursting at the seams with 108 children
– and still there are faces at the windows of small people
who would love to attend. The majority of the children are
sponsored by people in the UK who undertake to support, through
the Trust, a specific child throughout their education in
Nursery School and beyond. Therefore the Nursery School
teachers have been funded by the Trust to undertake a three
year teacher-training course which, amazingly, they have
completed in their own time. The school is also special
in that it has a water supply and electricity; although
anyone who knows the Gambia will be aware that these can
be somewhat spasmodic!
The Trust purchased a large plot of land in the “bush”.
The rural area had no school for miles. It took some time
but we now have a two storey school which can therefore
be seen from quite a distance! It has been granted “Cycle”
status, not commonly bestowed in the Gambia, which means
it can take children from the age of 3 up to 16. We have
eight classrooms and operate a morning and afternoon shift.
Again, we want the best, qualified teachers; after all,
it’s no less than the children deserve. The school also
has a shower and toilet block and a huge playing field for
the beloved football!
The reputation of the Trust built up through the Nursery
School for advancing good quality education (including working
closely with the Gambian Department of Education and introducing
relevant ideas from more developed countries) means that
families have relocated to the area in order that the children
can attend the new school. What was a lone building in the
bush is now surrounded by homes and livestock (rather than
just the inevitable termite mounds!) and is becoming a real
community.
Volunteering Work:
The Trust is funded purely by charitable means including
donations, fundraising and the sponsorship programme. We
also offer volunteering trips where people can come to the
Gambia and be involved in the work in whatever way they
wish (teaching, painting the schools, making resources,
coaching sport etc.) The trips are tailor-made to include
sightseeing and taking part in Gambian activities and culture
– the real Gambia. The Trust is also a Duke of Edinburgh
Gold Activity provider. But be warned: saying goodbye is
very hard!
If you would like more information about the Trust, have
any questions or would like to be involved in any way, please
contact enquiries@lisakenttrust.org,
or call our Gambian Administrator on 7185155 or UK Administrator
on 07803 123 023.
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