CHS in The Gambia
Cheadle Hulme School has had an association with communities in The Gambia since 1998, with the first trip organised by the former Head of Geography. Stationery and clothes were taken and the group visited the High School and Kwenella School, near Tendaba. In 2002 a relationship with the Badrudeen Islamic School in Soma was also developed.
Since that time, charitable donations by the CHS Community have been used across a number of projects, with Sixth Form students visiting the area every two years to see how the funds are used and learn about life in the region. Help was also provided in the wider community by providing agricultural machinery, seeds and fertiliser, establishing a skills centre to train school leavers and supporting women with the development of a community cooperative.
As of 2019, CHS Soma has 89 students on roll, 42 girls and 47 boys. The guaranteed “one meal a day” feeding programme, funded by our former Head of Geography, Ian Ray has meant an increase of 48% in enrolment. The children are aged 3-5 and approximately 63% come from very poor homes and will get their main meal of the day from the school.
The School now has five classrooms, an office, kitchen, three toilets and a tap as a direct result of the funding from CHS.
Read our student blog from the last Gambia trip here.
