Enterprising youngsters to build Skills Centre in Gambia (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Enterprising youngsters to build Skills Centre in Gambia

2:47pm Saturday 28th June 2008

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Twelve young people from Marlborough have raised £7,000 to build a Skills Centre in the town's link village of Gunjur in The Gambia, and are heading out for fun, hard work and adventure on Tuesday 8th July, all helped by local charity the Marlborough Brandt Group.

Matt Yates (21), an ex-St John's School pupil, is leading an expedition of St John's, Marlborough College and Dauntsey School students aged mostly 17 to 18 years, to build the Centre. When completed, it will offer vocational courses for young people who are unable to attend college in the larger cities.

"Many youngsters in Gunjur have to drop out of school early to help in the home, or because their parents cannot afford to pay for the costs of sending their children away to study. So there are a lot of young people in their teens and early 20s who have no jobs and nothing to do, yet are desperate to work to provide for their families," say Matt.

"We have learnt that they want the Centre to provide them with computer training, tailoring and hairdressing ñ the sorts of skills that will lead directly to them getting work. People from the local community will be encouraged to pass on their skills," he says.

The project was agreed between MBG and the village community, and the group will be building walls, erecting the roof and plastering and painting the completed building. They will learn how to do this by working alongside local tradesmen.

"We expect our funding to stretch to equipping the Centre too, and already a consignment of fully-kitted out computers are on their way to Gunjur. Potentially this Centre could turn around the lives of hundreds of young people and give them a real chance to get started on a career path," says Matt.

Matt, and the two assistant leaders Adele Seaward and Charlie Dessain, have been to the Gunjur on previous summer trips. "I am so looking forward to seeing my family, the Jallows, again," says Matt.

"They have a large family and there will be all ages from babies to grandparents living in their compound. We will live as family members, helping out with chores and eating their food. I went out in 2003, and the children will have grown up now."

To raise money for the project, the group organised fundraising activities ranging from a raffle night, bingo night, charity concert and street collections. They will return from their adventure on Tuesday August 5th.

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