Gifts from The Gambia

The two hand-carved bowls were presented by the Brikama Methodist Academy (BMA) to Queen's College pupils who visited The Gambia. One is clearly dated to mark the trip of 2013. The other, with the words 'FOR ALL SWIMMERS AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE', was to acknowledge the enthusiasm of pupils from the school who enjoyed swimming in the River Gambia. This impressed Mr Kamara, the Headmaster of the BMA, who hated swimming himself and feared for the safety of those who did. This gift was probably given on one of the two subsequent visits in 2014 and 2015. Three other visits had been made previously in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

The link with The Gambia arose through the World AIMS (World Action In Methodist Schools) project. Queen's decided to be involved and after conversations with Rev. Titus Pratt, whose daughter, Gladys did her A Levels at Queen's they decided to focus on The Gambia. Pupils looked at the ways the Methodist Church there was involved in education, agriculture and health and they also learned about the Gambia's history, politics and social structure. Each pupil had a Gambian penfriend whom they visited in their homes when in the country.

Visits to The Gambia had a practical side. For example, Queen's pupils contributed to the development of the Marakissa clinic which dealt, mainly, with pre and post-natal cases. In the compound was a building in disrepair in which malnourished children were housed. Queen's pupils fund-raised to provide the money for the building to be repaired and modernized. During the 2013 trip, they spent two days repairing beds and cots and negotiating with a local foam factory for mattresses and pillows. The following year, Queen's pupils concentrated on developing a garden at the clinic in which mothers could learn to grow crops at home. Over 100 Queen's pupils benefitted from the link with The Gambia which taught all involved much about wealth and poverty, happiness and well-being. The school chaplain, Rev R Blackwell, was the inspiration behind the project.