Issue 509 – Matravers students visit The Gambia

SIXTH form students from Matravers have been experiencing life in The Gambia with an eye-opening trip to the African country.18 sixth formers spent time teaching in their link school as well as donating sports equipment and kit, and also visited a local hospital and attractions in the area. Teacher David Oakley explained, “Matravers School has been linking with the village and Upper Basic School at Gunjur for 13 years, and once again this year’s visit was a fantastic experience for all concerned. Over the years Matravers School has worked closely with Gunjur Upper Basic School and have managed to develop fresh water systems for the whole school, ICT equipment, solar panels and school equipment. “This year, thanks to the hard work of the staff of Matravers’ PE department, we were able to donate sports equipment and kit to help the school further develop their sports delivery at school. “During the week students worked at our link school, teaching dance, PE, maths, science and English. This year all Matravers Year 7 and 8 students wrote personalized letters to students in Gunjur, and during the week the students on the trip assisted students to write letters in response, which were brought back to England and will be given back to Matravers’ students in the next few weeks.” For the third year in a row, Mr Oakley taught students photography and the resulting photographs will be exhibited later on in the year as part of the Westbury Music and Arts Festival. When not in school, the group visited a local nursery and primary school, the hospital where they made a small donation, nature reserve, reptile sanctuary, Banjul capital, markets, the beach and gave donated clothes and medical supplies to some of the poorer families within the community.Students Lizzie Dalby and Tasha Bull said, “The Gambia was the most amazing experience of our lives, and offered opportunities that you would never get the chance to do again. Everyone in The Gambia are so polite and lovely and they will be missed by us all. We would highly recommend this trip to any sixth-formers; it’s a once in a life-time experience and you get the chance to really make a difference to people’s lives”.The trip took place over the February half-term holiday, with 18 sixth form students going out to the country with Mr Oakley, Mrs Taylor, and Mrs Wilsher. Mr Oakley has already started planning for next year’s visit which will be open to all sixth form students, and it is hoped that the school will develop even stronger educational links between the two schools.If you would like to know more about Matravers’ links with The Gambia there is more information and photos on the school’s website: www. matravers.wilts.sch.uk. If you are a company or an individual who would like to sponsor any of their future developments in Gunjur please contact Mr Oakley at Matravers School.