Ten students from Marlborough College and St John’s School will be talking about their experiences in The Gambia at Marlborough Town Hall later this month.
The students, along with leaders Rosie Carter, Harriet Compton and James Moran, have spent four weeks in Marlborough’s twin community of Gunjur with Marlborough Brandt Group, helping to build an extension to the central market.
Nick Maurice of Marlborough Brandt Group explained: “This market, in many ways similar to the new Sunday market in Marlborough, is in the centre of the village and is a vital source of income for the women of Gunjur who sell their produce vegetables, meat and locally caught fish.
“This money is used to support their families and educate their children.”
The youngsters have also been working with the charity Disability Africa, helping to provide an appropriately stimulating, fun and educational environment for disabled children who, too often, are neglected because African traditions expect little or nothing of disabled children.
The group aged between sixteen and eighteen years old are entirely self-funded and have raised £4,000 towards the materials for building the extension to the market.
They are the sixteenth group to make the summer visit and work in Gunjur since the first group went in 1985 led by the then mayor, Nick Fogg.
They will be giving a presentation of their time in Gunjur on Monday, August 20 at 7.30 pm in Marlborough Town Hall. Admission free, but there will be a retiring collection.
Meanwhile, the AGM of the Brandt Group will be held at the charity’s office at Elm Tree Park, Manton SN8 1PS at 6.30pm on Thursday, August 9.
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