NEWSLETTERS

April 2014

My name is Teresa Padgett but in the Gambia I am known as Bintou Jallow. I am from Bedford, Virginia and I am in my third year at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM). This spring I had the opportunity to study abroad in the Gambia for four months in as a part of the SMCM PEACE (Promoting Educational and Cultural Exchange) Program in The Gambia. I came with nine other students from St. Mary's College and Elizabethtown College. As part of the PEACE program we are attached to Gambian families, we take classes at the University of the Gambia, take Wolof language classes with trainers from the Peace Corps, as well as participate in internship and volunteer programs. It is excellent opportunity that I will be forever grateful for.

One of the best parts of my experience in the Gambia by far has been my volunteer work at Agi Awa Bah Nursery School in Bakau. I am a co-teacher for a class of approximately fifty 3 and 4 year olds. I help teach English, sing songs, say rhymes, play games, and I get to be a kid again! My fellow teachers are right when they say, "It's not easy" but the reward of seeing the smiles on the children's faces and watching them learn and grow as time goes on makes it all worth it. I love working with children and have gained so much knowledge and patience from this experience.

Working with children is another way of showing how connected we are as a human race. No matter where you go, children have similar behaviors. They fight with one another, make messes, pee their pants, and get distracted easily. But they also show love to one another through small actions such as sharing their cookie at lunch or hugging one another after they fall down. They have so much enthusiasm for things that may seem so small to adults and they are so proud of themselves when they come up with the right answer to a question and receive a pat on the back for it. I'm so glad that I decided to volunteer at the nursery school during my time here because even when I may not fully understand cultural or language differences, I can understand the language of children, and that's a beautiful thing.

I am so grateful to everyone at Agi Awa Bah for welcoming me to their school and providing so much guidance and support. I will miss the children so much when I leave but I hope to be back again some day!

Here are a couple of photos that she took that day -

LETTER TO JENNY MONEY FROM MRS, JALLOW AND MRS JOBE

Dear Jenny,

May I first and foremost express my sincere gratitude to you for your humanitarian gesture providing children with a conducive learning environment is not a small thing. These poor and under privileged children can only succeed with quality and relevant education brought to their door steps. Jenny this is what you have done. You paved the school ground with your birthday present and now it's the two classrooms and toilets. Thank you so much, though the project is still incomplete; we have done the structure and have roofed it as you can see from the pictures (See 'Gallery' 2015) but we have run out of money.

We are left with the plumbing materials and cost of labour, electrical wiring and labour, paints, painting and cost of labour. Once this is done then the children can move in to the classroom. But nonetheless, my dear Jenny, we thank you so much for your gift. This would not have been possible without your support, we are very grateful indeed.

Can you please send me the names of your mother and her friend. If possible we would like to have a photo of them and brief biography of them. This we will use and put a picture of each one of them in their respective classes, once the building is ready. If all goes on well we would like the children to use the classes by January, with God's grace.

Once again on behalf of the children, teachers, parents and on my own behalf our sincere thanks for your benevolent support. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Enclosed is a list of expenditure and the receipts of how the three thousand Pounds was used . Tina and Victor also raised three hundred Pounds.

Lots of love

bye.

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MESSAGE FROM MRS. YAHARR JALLOW January 16 2016

Season Greetings to all citizens of Lewes especially the following for without them Agi Awa Bah Nursery School would not have been what it is today. Tony Shephard and the concert group, Jenny Money, Tina & Victor Smith and all those who in one way or the other contributed in making the school what it is today. Our thanks also goes to Margaret Hampton & husband, Nigel Williams, Professor Russell King and Clare Rogers, Agi Awa Joseph and friends, Ebrima Jallow & friends, Omar Toure & friends and all relatives.

The plastering of the walls of the new upstairs classroom is nearly completed and we hope that the floors will be laid soon.

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