Sinchu Gundo School

In our first year of operation, we concentrated on helping the rural community of Sinchu Gundo. This village requested assistance from WAVE in restoring the kitchen of their primary school, a mud brick structure on the verge of collapse. The World Food Program (WFP) warned that if no repairs were made, the school would forfeit eligibility for the WFP School Lunch Contribution Program. This would greatly disrupt the students' day, forcing them to either return home to eat (some children live upwards of six kilometers from school) or simply go hungry. The concerned parents and citizens of the Sinchu Gundo approached our foundation for assistance. In August 2009, WAVE raised $3000 to help construct a new and significantly improved kitchen. Today the school's over-three hundred elementary students continue to enjoy a WFP lunch served from a safer and a more hygienic kitchen space. The new kitchen features a chimney to channel smoke outside, improving the respiratory health of the cooks. It also incorportates a separate room for safe storage of food and other culinary materials. It is a modest facility, but it serves the children admirably. Solidly built, the Sinchu Gundo school kitchen will serve them for decades.

A further request was made by the Sinchu Gundo Primary School. The village “school board” asked WAVE’s assistance to establish a nursery school so that younger children of the area may get a head-start on basic education. Because WAVE requires projects to strive for sustainability, an agreement was worked out between WAVE and the school management committee to support the fledgling preschool program by providing a teacher’s salary for two years. At the end of the 2010-2011 school year the management committee will request funding from the Regional Education Director for support of the preschool. The Gambian Government financially supports preschools that have been successfully organized by the community and running for two years.

Community and School Gardens

WAVE supported three garden and tree nursery projects during the past dry season by assisting two schools and one community with fencing materials, technical advice, and seeds. Gardens provide an essential financial and nutritional supplement to schools and families during the dry months between growing seasons. Unfortunately, trees in the Sahel region of West Africa are harvested beyond a sustainable rate. Tree nurseries at schools help students understand the value of trees and reforestation and how shade producing trees can impact the immediate environment.

WAVE continually receives requests for garden projects. If you would like to help a village or school with gardening materials please click on donate button in the upper right hand corner of your screen. For additional information please email westafricawave@gmail.com