West Africa Childrens Trust

childrens charity

ABOUT OUR CHILDRENS CHARITY

The idea of a charity began following a visit to the Gambia by Marilyn (the chair of the charity) in 2002. During this visit, Marilyn became acutely aware of the level of child poverty in the country and wanted to do something practical to help. As a lecturer, Marilyn began by sponsoring the education of a small boy, then a year later she started to sponsor his younger sister. The benefits for these two children were huge. From this small foundation the charity grew, and became a registered charity in 2006.

The charity facilitates the sponsoring of children’s education, from nursery age up to college.Sponsorship with our charity includes school uniforms and importantly a lunch each day for every child. The charity helps these children so that they can have a brighter future.

The charity also funds humanitarian aid for both children and adults, in the form of medicine and transportation to clinics and hospitals, when they and their families cannot afford to pay for even basic care. To date four lives have been saved through the work of the charity. There are hundreds of children needing help and our efforts need to be concentrated in order to gain maximum benefit for the children.

As part of our humanitarian aid objectives, the charity donates sugar to The Methodist Special School, Kanifing, (we have supported this school for many years), and World Food Aid donates flour to this school. These food gifts allow the school to provide the children with breakfasts. We also give bags of rice to families in need.

Many of Marilyn’s former students have helped us in the past with fundraising events, and she has taken students on educational visits to The Gambia, so that they can experience first-hand the life and culture of the country.

charity and donation

Any donations that you are willing to make will go a long way to keeping our support goinging into the future.
We rely on the kind donations made, and thank all that continue to donate and all that donate in the future.