Most rural and many urban Gambian schools have vegetable
gardens. These serve as teaching aids, growing food for school
meals, and sometimes selling produce to raise funds. Nearly all rely
on irrigation from wells and boreholes. Bakalarr Basic Cycle School once successful set of vegetable gardens were irrigated from a well which is now failing. The photo below shows vigorous healthy crops in 2003.
The water from this well is not
drinkable, and is used solely for irrigation. They have a very limited piped supply for cooking and drinking. The decreased flow means that the crops are suffering, as shown in the photo below.
The solution to the failing well is
to have it re-bored. This should provide sufficient inflow of water
for all their requirements in the foreseeable future. They are also
proposing to install a water storage tank, so there is always a
reserve of water. Vegetable gardens are very
important to Gambian schools and a lot of effort is put in by both
staff members and children. Many of the vegetables are used for
school meals, while some are sold to provide funds for school
resources. In addition to this, the gardens provide a valuable
teaching resource for the agricultural science programme.
Please help us with a donation
The total cost is estimated at £2050. We are able to kick-start
this appeal with £385 raised by Gavin Sandison by running the
2012 New Forest Half Marathon. By making
a donation to this appeal, you will help to bring the Bakalarr
vegetable gardens back to full vigour, making a huge difference
to the quality of life in the school. see our webpage for full details
# posted by DaveG @ 17:40
