The Advanced Level students from Thames, Oxford are in the country with one of their head teachers, Jonathan Blundell, and have been engaged in a series of activities including a visit to The Standard newspaper in Bakau.
Mr Blundell, the head teacher of the students told The Standard on Wednesday: “The reason behind this tour is to learn about life in The Gambia. Our partnership with Brikama Upper Basic School came as a result of a memorandum of understanding that was signed between the two schools in 2002. Every year, students from Lord Williams’s School come to The Gambia on a study trip. Also, we select two teachers from Brikama Upper Basic School to go to Lord Williams’ for training each year and vice versa.”
Mr Blundell added: “I would say we have indeed learned a lot in a short period including some Gambian music and traditional dances which of course would serve as memories. It is good to be here in The Gambia and we hope to strengthen this partnership.”
Elaine, one of the students aspiring to be a disaster management officer, said of the visit: “I am aspiring to be a disaster management officer and I am working very hard in finding out ways of preventing disasters especially flooding. I want to collaborate with The Gambia on disaster issues through case studies of disaster realities in the country.”
Tom Nolan, a student, said the purpose of the trip was to consolidate what they are learning at school in their various subjects and to use The Gambia as a case study to write on in their books and exams. “We find this trip to be really educating and full of experience. Now we can go back home with greater knowledge of The Gambia and its beautiful people. It is a great country to be in.”
Meanwhile, Carol a teacher at Lord Williams’ School said she is a frequent traveler to The Gambia because she runs a charitable organisation to support Gambian children. “This trip is for one week but I regularly come to The Gambia. Back in the UK, we are running a charitable organisation called ‘Sponsor A Gambian Child’ and this has been helpful in the education of some children here in The Gambia. It has been functioning for over five years now with the help of a collaborator here in the country. There are about 350 Gambian children going to school through this organisation.”
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