GIFTS to Gambia!

That's the aim of kind-hearted pre-school children in Bury who are helping their counterparts in West Africa.

And in the latest effort involving Bury's Chantlers Pre-School, a parcel of jigsaws, toys, books and other items are now Africa-bound.

The goods were donated by children, parents and staff in the latest "exchange" between Bury and Basse in Gambia.

The informal twinning arrangement between the two countries began in 1995 and each year since then, Bury children have donated goods to pre-schools in Gambia.

And each January since then, the local children have sent a parcel of goods to two pre-schools based in the continent's smallest independent state. "This has become a successful annual event," said Mrs Maureen Whitfield, leader in charge of Chantlers pre-school.

"We ask children and parents to bring along good as new things for Africa and sometimes we buy stuff ourselves."

The two West African pre-schools are Yerobowel with 30 children and nearby Basse pre-school with 38 pupils, both located in a very poor district.

Mrs Whitfield added: "The educational system is necessarily formal because of lack of materials and size of classes.

"English language is taught in all schools but most parents have never been to school, except those who live in the Banjul or urban area near the coast."

A display board has been placed at Chantlers pre-school which, in pictorial form, shows the location and children at these schools.

Mrs Whitfield went on: "Our initial twinning activity is the interchange of photographs showing each other's buildings and, of course, our children.

"Throughout the pre-school year we will, from time to time, arrange other activities to promote this theme."

The western world's celebration of Christmas has just finished and staff at Chantlers thought it would be an ideal time for local children to send their own small, inexpensive gift to a child far away in the Gambia.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.