Pageant News

Pageant mainly works to support education in The Gambia at a school or community level, but individuals have a chance to help Gambian students on a one-to-one basis with the Pageant sponsorship scheme. Pageant is delighted to announce that we have just arranged sponsorship for our 200th student.
Twins reunited
One of Pageant’s most moving sponsorship successes involved a pair of twins. Their family could not afford to feed and clothe them, let alone send them to school. So they were sent off to other parts of their extended family, separated not only from their home and parents, but also from each other. Sponsorship enabled the family to get back together again, with the twins back at home and in the same school. The picture shows Sanna & Sainey just after they were reunited with each other and their parents. Read more stories of how sponsorship has changed the lives of people in The Gambia.
Why sponsorship is needed
In The Gambia, primary education is free, in that the state provides the schools and teachers. Students’ families must pay for books, food, uniform and travel. In secondary and further education, students must also pay fees for classes. Also, there is no state provision for nursery education, so parents must pay the full costs. Sponsorship under Pageant’s scheme starts at £80 per year for nursery and primary children, ranging up to £120 for A level students, and all of this goes to the student. More information.
We currently have 47 children and young people looking for sponsorship. Our list is constantly being updated as new children are added, mainly at the suggestion of head teachers, who really know which of their pupils are most in need. We have an enquiry page showing photos of students seeking sponsorship, with a form for you to request further information.