Newsletter August 2026
Thank you, as ever, for your on-going support whether by monthly sponsorship, donations, attending our events, or following our progress online.
Many of you have generously responded to our request, a year ago, to increase your donations to £15 a month (or £180 per year). We wholeheartedly thank you for this. If you haven’t done so yet, please consider doing so. Not only have staffing costs increased, but we are also now facing much higher food bills. You may not have seen in world news that The Gambia has had a deluge of contaminated rice and flour hit the markets. Also, other contaminated food stuffs. The Gambian Government are aware but are not acting very quickly. As a consequence, Alimamo is being very careful where he buys and what he buys. Inevitability at extra cost.
I don’t have a lot to report for this month as it’s been school holidays. In fact, school doesn’t start again until towards end of September. Academic years are planned that way in West Africa to avoid the rainy season. Thanks to some very generous donations of wellington boots, the children should cope with the wet roads if the rains carry on into October as they did last year.
0n the subject of rain, I am happy to report that the roads around the school and the school infrastructure have all stayed flood proof thanks to your generosity.
Although it is school holidays, staff have kept themselves busy:
Demba continues studying for his BA in English Literature.
Mamu has been attending college for her Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Development (as well as looking after her own 3 children under the age of 6).
Baboucarr has been back to his own village where he farms, as well as travelling to the school a couple of days a week to hold study classes.
Modou Lamin has been holding study classes for new students transferring from other schools. The school had several requests from parents of children at other schools to transfer to Afrikaya as they weren’t happy with the quality of education they were getting. Modou Lamin has been working with them to bring them up to speed and identify areas of weakness so their new teacher can help them when school starts.
Alimamo has been overseeing all the maintenance work on the buildings and the gardens. Lots of trees and shrubs have been pruned back. Remember the fruit garden behind the classrooms? It had apparently become ‘a bit of a jungle’. It all needed to be thinned out. Much of it was taken up by banana plants. The stems that produce fruit only do so once, then die back. The plant itself is spent within 5 to10 years. Therefore, a lot needed clearing. The goats are very happy! Banana plants for dinner!
We have been working hard in the UK. Or monthly drum circles continue https://afrikaya.co.uk/afrikaya-drum-circles/ If you live nearby, why not come along and give it a go. I’m sure you will enjoy it. Sanjeen and I have been completing the end of financial year accounts with the help of Alimamo and Binta. They all went to our accountants and have now been submitted to and accepted by the UK Charity Commission. This is my very least favourite part of running the charity.
Geoff and I have been gathering together musical instruments, t-shirts, school jumpers, and school supplies. One shipment sailed off last week. Another is due to be picked up from us in about 10 days time.
It would be wonderful if you could consider donating to help us with the costs of shipping. It costs us around £200 each time. Please donate in your usual way, or via http://paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3202564
It’s the easiest way to donate. You don’t need a PayPal account.
A little reminder of where it all began. Five People. Five Journeys. One Shared Vision.
This wonderful mural celebrates the unique alliance behind the founding of Afrikaya Nursery School — five people from different backgrounds, countries and cultures, brought together by a shared belief in the power of education and opportunity for children in The Gambia.
🇬🇲 Alimamo Ceesay — The Gambia
🇬🇧 Geoff Miles — Wiltshire, UK
🇬🇧 Di Miles — Wiltshire, UK
🇳🇿 Helen Payne-Kumar — originally from New Zealand
🇮🇳 Sanjeen Payne-Kumar — of Indian heritage
Five different journeys. Five perspectives. One shared commitment: to create something lasting and positive for children in The Gambia.
The flags and imagery in this mural are a beautiful reminder that friendships and partnerships can cross continents and cultures — and that when people come together with a common purpose, wonderful things can grow.
Afrikaya was born from this alliance — and its story continues. 💚🇬🇲🇬🇧🇳🇿🇮🇳
It remains for me to again say a massive thank you for your support.
Warmest wishes
Di, on behalf of the trustees, the staff and the children of the Afrikaya Nursery School.
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July Newsletter
July has been another incredibly busy month at Afrikaya!
Graduation Gifts
This month we contacted sponsors whose sponsored children were due
to graduate from Afrikaya Nursery School. A number asked how they could gift the child with a leaving gift. So many of you responded with wonderful
generosity. Thanks to your support, every graduating child whose sponsor
contributed received a copy of Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke—a delightful
chapter book celebrating the joys of growing up in a loving African family.
We hope it will encourage a lifelong love of reading as the children begin
their exciting journey into primary school.
Inside each book was a personalised bookplate, like the one shown
below, making it a special keepsake that we hope they will treasure for
years to come.
Music at Afrikaya
Some of the children are now enjoying music lessons one day each
week.
Over the past year we have been fortunate to receive donations of quite
a number of musical instruments, for which we are extremely grateful.
However, we still need more, and we also need help to cover the cost of
our music teacher. Music is far more than an extra activity. Singing, drumming, playing music, and moving together help children develop language,
concentration, confidence, creativity and emotional resilience—all skills
that give them a strong start when they move on to primary school.
A small monthly donation can help us buy instruments, support our
music teacher and keep music alive at Afrikaya. If you would like to help,
whether with a one-off or regular donation, please visit:
If you have a musical instrument that is no longer needed, we would be delighted to hear from you. Your unwanted instrument could inspire achild’s love of music.
End of Term Success
As is customary in Gambian schools, every child sits end-of-term assessments. While we firmly believe that every child is unique and has talents that go far beyond academic achievement, we are always delighted to celebrate their successes. Once again this year, many of our sponsored children achieved places among the top three in their classes. We say this every year because it remains true: without the generosity and commitment of our wonderful sponsors, many of these children simply would never have had the opportunity to attend school. Because of your support, our graduating children leave Afrikaya with a strong educational foundation, ready to take the exciting next step into primary school. Thank you for helping to change lives, one child at a time.
Caring for the School Environment
Afrikaya is about much more than education. We believe that the environment in which children learn is just as important as the lessons they are taught. When children see adults caring for their surroundings, they learn to respect their environment—and themselves. Now that the rainy season is beginning, all the trees and shrubs are being carefully pruned back. This will be repeated once the rains have finished and everything has grown again.
This is also the time of year when the school buildings, furniture and play equipment are repainted. The fresh paint not only keeps everything looking bright and welcoming but also protects it from the slightly acidic rains that arrive during the wet season.
Prize Giving Ceremony
The school year ended with our annual Prize Giving Ceremony, held on
Thursday, the day before the school broke up for the summer holidays. It
was a wonderful celebration of the children’s achievements and a fitting
way to mark the end of another successful year.
It was a lovely way to mark this special milestone, and I was especially
pleased to see a return to a simpler celebration this year, following the
Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education’s directive that graduation
ceremonies should no longer include caps and gowns.
As well as prizes for the top three pupils in each class, special awards
were presented to children who had shown other positive qualities
throughout the year.
Some received the “Neat Child” award, which in Gambian schools
recognises children who are well-behaved, polite, tidy and respectful.
Others were presented with the “Regular Child” award. Although the
name may sound unusual to those outside The Gambia, it recognises
children who attend regularly, behave consistently well and are
dependable members of their class.
It was wonderful to see so many children recognised and celebrated for
their achievements, effort and positive attitudes.
The school is now closed for the summer holidays and will reopen in
mid-September for the start of a new academic year. Our graduating
children will move on to their local primary schools, while we look
forward to welcoming a new intake of children to Afrikaya.
Sponsors whose sponsored child has graduated will soon be introduced
to another child from our new intake. As soon as I receive their
photographs and information, I will send these on to you.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to every one of our sponsors. Your kindness
and generosity have given these children a wonderful start to their
education and opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed. Every book, every lesson, every smile and every success has been made possible because of your support.
On behalf of all the children, staff and trustees at Afrikaya, thank you for
being part of our journey. We wish you a wonderful summer and look
forward to sharing more news with you when the new school year
begins.
Di Miles 28 July 2026
June 2026
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June Update
🌞 June Update from Afrikaya Nursery School
As June draws to a close, the UK and much of Europe have been sweltering in a heatwave — a small reminder of the temperatures our friends in The Gambia experience daily. I hope you’re all managing to stay cool.
A Little Joy to Start
I can’t resist sharing a photo of little Miss Ceesay — Alimamo’s daughter and my namesake. A true cute alert.
Back to School After Tobaski
The children returned to school on 1st June after their week’s break for Tobaski. We’re now in the final stretch of the school year, with exams underway and our 2026 graduates preparing for their move to Primary School.
We’re also continuing our big push to help the children care for their environment by using the litter bins provided around the school.
Music Lessons Begin
Thanks to your generosity, our music room is now alive with sound. Professional musician, Sirtams Saine, has begun weekly Tuesday lessons. During tourist season he performs in hotels, but he has committed to teaching our children — and also training our teaching assistant, Modou Lamin, so lessons can continue even when he’s unavailable.
If anyone is able to sponsor Sirtams’ wages (£35 per day), we would be deeply grateful.
🏏 Outdoor Play
One of the games we sent — a children’s croquet set — has been a source of great amusement. The sand playground wasn’t ideal, but they’ll be trying again on the concrete walkways.
✍️ Celebrating Demba
We truly chose well in Demba, who continues to impress. Alongside teaching, he is studying English Language with the Open University and is also a writer.
He recently shared wonderful news:
“I am pleased to inform you my poem has been accepted in the Pan-African writers’ challenge. To be published in the first Anthology.”
He is one of only two Gambian poets selected.
The Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), founded in 1989 in Accra, Ghana, represents writers’ associations across all 54 African nations, promoting literacy, cultural exchange, and freedom of expression.
🌧️ Rainy Season Arrives
Seasonal rains have begun. We’ve sent many rain boots for the children, but not enough. Staff have asked whether we can also send umbrellas, raincoats, and boots — a single downpour on the way to school means teaching in wet clothes all day.
The good news: thanks to your support and Alimamo’s project management, the school’s flood defences are holding strong, and the surrounding roads remain passable.
📘 Yearbooks for the Leavers
Every year we produce Yearbooks for our graduating children. Timing is always tight, and air freight is the only way to ensure they arrive before the ceremony.
This year’s shipping cost was £165, and with printing, the total was nearly £400.
If you’re able to help with this cost, donations can be made in your usual way or via:
http://paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3202564
❤️ Thank You for Supporting Our Running Costs
We’re delighted that most of our running costs are covered by your monthly contributions. Costs continue to rise — especially wages, on‑costs, food, and power — just as they have in many countries.
Thank you, as always, for your kindness, generosity, and belief in Afrikaya. You make all of this possible.
Warmest wishes,
Di
AFRIKAYA - Gambian childrens' charity based in Pewsey, Wiltshire, UK. 