This Is Cheshire

Human kindness shines through in The Gambia

From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 15th Dec 2004.

A HOLIDAY to one of Africa's poorest countries eight years ago became a life-changing experience for a Weaverham couple when they asked to visit a local nursery school.

On their tour of the school in The Gambia, Glynn and Ian Jones saw poverty that would be unimaginable in England. They vowed to help in any way they could to improve the facilities for the children.

They stayed in touch with the people of Mandinari Village and their work began in earnest the following year, when the school was ravaged by the rainy season and was totally destroyed.

Glynn said: "We asked them what we could do and they asked if we could make a donation. We went back to our hotel and discussed it and we said we would raise the money they needed."

The couple, of Gerrard Drive, came home and set about raising the money needed, naming their charity SHINE Africa - Share Holding In Nursery Education.

Despite being Weaverham's best kept secret, their fundraising brought in the finances needed to build a new nursery for the children of the village.

The villagers showed their appreciation by naming the new building The Jones' Nursery. However their charity work did not stop there.

Glynn and Ian, 55, also raised money for a library within the school for the whole village to use. They funded a new roof for the village clinic and provided it with equipment including stethoscopes, crutches, medicine and baby scales.

They then paid for tables and chairs to be made by local people for both the Mandinari nursery and another one in neighbouring Farafenni.

They also provided five schools in the region with equipment such as exercise books, pens, pencils, crayons and counting equipment.

Their low profile campaign has involved collecting donations from friends and family as well as work colleagues and acquaintances.

They have also put charity boxes in shops and arranged for sponsorship of children in The Gambia. The couple are now pressing on with their work and are bidding to tackle one of the biggest dangers in Africa - malaria.

More than two million people die from this disease every year, and one of the most vulnerable groups are children under the age of five.

Studies have shown that children who sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets are 25 per cent less likely to die.

Glynn, 53, said mosquitoes were most active at night, which made it vitally important that children were protected by nets.

She said: "This is the reason why SHINE - Africa decided to provide as many nets as possible to the children of their schools. It is difficult to educate if the children are not well. Malaria has devastating results in so many ways."

The nets cost £3, which may be cheap by Western standards but is very expensive for the people who need them most.

Glynn and Ian have turned their attentions to buying nets, and they also help the community by buying them from a local trader.

They are also currently raising money to build a new school in the town of Serrekunda, which will cost them £2,000.

All the money they raise goes straight to the people of The Gambia, with the charity's trustees taking no expenses out.

The Gambian community's response to the couple's selfless work has made it all worthwhile.

Glynn said: "They are so grateful for what we do - it's hard to explain. We started to do the work because the people were so nice.

"They aren't wealthy but they are willing to share what they have. Their whole culture is based on respect for each other.

"We show our respect for them by asking their opinions on what they need and want. We don't tell them what they need."

Anyone who would like to know more about the charity's work should email Glynn at glynndax@supanet.com or trustee Tom Ireland at tom@newhutte.demon.co.uk.

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