🌞 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.
We still have children who need sponsors. Please encourage friends or family to support us through our Sponsor a Child scheme or to become a Friend of Afrikaya.
As always, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your continuing support. Without you, we could not do this. Thank you. 🙏
May 2026 Newsletter
May 2026 Newsletter
May has been a wonderfully busy month at Afrikaya, full of achievements, celebrations, and moments that remind us why your support matters so much.
Football Shirts Arrive in The Gambia
After a long journey, the football shirts donated by Bath City FC finally reached West Side United — and the excitement was enormous. The team were absolutely delighted, and Afrikaya even made it into the local Bath press, Bath City News.
Bath City FC • West Side United
Graduations Coming Up – Without the Robes
We have an unusually large number of children graduating in July and moving on to Primary School. This year, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has directed that graduation robes are not to be worn at leaving ceremonies. I can’t say I’m sorry — the children look just as proud without them.
In preparation, I’ve completed the children’s Year Books, which they will receive as a keepsake of their time at Afrikaya.
OneChildOneTree – Growing Futures
Our OneChildOneTree project continues. Each child plants a fruit pip at the start of the school year and takes home their own fruit tree when they leave. This year, we seem to have a bumper crop of orange trees.
OneChildOneTree • Fruit trees
School Outing – Abuko Nature Reserve & Lamin Lodge
The leavers enjoyed their annual school outing, this time to Abuko Nature Reserve and Lamin Lodge.
Abuko is The Gambia’s oldest protected wildlife area — small but incredibly biodiverse, with dense gallery forest and rich birdlife. It’s always a favourite trip for the children.
Abuko Nature Reserve • Lamin Lodge
Afrikaya Sponsored Walk – A Shared Journey
The highlight of the month was our big fundraiser: the Afrikaya Sponsored Walk.
For the first time, the top two classes (40 children), along with Alimamo and all the teachers, walked at the same time as our supporters in the UK. The children sang as they walked — pure joy in motion. We were especially happy to see one of our sponsors, Martina, join the children on the walk.
🎥 Watch the children walking and singing:
https://youtu.be/-KzbJzrVALY?feature=shared
Afrikaya Walk
We even had 2 babies join us on the walk. One here and one in The Gambia – Malick, son of our teacher Mamu.
We raised nearly £1,700 between the UK and The Gambia. It’s not too late to donate if you’d like to encourage the children further.
For those interested in the Wiltshire route, Geoff has written a lovely blog:
https://afrikaya.co.uk/events/afrikaya-walk-a-story-told-in-footsteps/
Geoff’s blog
Tobaski Break
School closes today for a week’s break as next week is Tobaski (Eid Al‑Adha), honouring the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
We haven’t run a Tobaski Appeal this year — it felt too soon after Ramadan and so close to the sponsored walk. But if you would like to contribute a little towards the children’s post‑Tobaski celebrations, we certainly won’t say no.
Tobaski
A Final Smile – The Dream Room
I have to finish with the sweetest moment from last week: a short video of the 3‑year‑olds having a lesson in the Dream Room.
Do watch with sound — it will brighten your day.
https://youtube.com/shorts/qNh_5DV591M?si=M99X6H4aDkGxKb9O
Dream Room
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. 