Newsletter, December 2023

Dear sponsors and supporters!

In November, we took another sponsor trip to our schools in The Gambia. It was two eventful and exciting weeks filled with many experiences. Here’s a glimpse of what we did and what we experienced.

Our first stop was the preschool in Ebo Town. There, we were welcomed with songs and dances by young students aged 4 to 7.

The sign read, “Welcome, our Dear Sponsors. We are very happy to see you once again,” and they truly showed it through their warm smiles.

The trip to the school in Brikama was hot—a little over an hour’s drive in 38 degrees—but when we were greeted by Principal Yabou, 32 staff members, and 320 students with smiles, joy, and good food, we were all absolutely delighted.

Thank you for the wonderful hours of joy and learning in the classrooms.

The next stop was the school in New Jeshwang. This is by far our largest school, with 780 students. Classes are held here virtually around the clock, and including the high school on the same campus, our cooks prepare a hot meal for nearly
1,500 students every day.

The last school we visited was the preschool in Bakalar. To get there, we had to take a ferry across the river to Barra, and from there continue by car to Bakalar.

Principal Tida made sure to hold a graduation ceremony for her students while we were there. “Graduation” is for the students who have completed their three years at the preschool.

There was singing and joy, the presentation of certificates, and, not least, a delicious meal of chicken and rice. A wonderful day with Tida, 100 students, and 12 staff members.

Graduation Ceremony for Students at New Jeshwang High School

On Friday, November 24, we held a graduation ceremony for all the students graduating from New Jeshwang High School in 2023. A wonderful group
who were very grateful for their education. This school produced The Gambia’s top student in 2023—Omar Cham, who hopes to continue his studies to become a doctor.
Hooray for Omar and Butterfly Friends! We served everyone chicken, chips, and sponge cake.

Reunion Party for Former Students

On Sunday, November 26, we wanted to bring together as many of Butterfly Friends’ former students as possible. We wanted to see how they’d been doing since graduating from our school. How many had gone on to further education? How many had found jobs—and if so, what kind? Were there any who hadn’t been able to move forward?

Bringing former students together was easier said than done. It was hard to know where they were, and even harder to get in touch with them, but we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. But how many would show up? Would there be 20? 40? 104 showed up, and everyone was happy and grateful.

We served more chicken and chips. We took photos, and they wrote down what they were either studying or working on. It made for fascinating reading. Of everyone who showed up, 66 were continuing their studies or had already found a job. There were 28 who were neither studying nor working, but what they all had in common was that they wanted to move forward in life. The vast majority wanted a higher education, but unfortunately, they hadn’t been able to raise the money to make their dreams a reality (see page 4). Of course, we don’t know if this result is representative of ALL the students we’ve had, but it was still very encouraging. Education is important; it’s the path out of poverty. That’s why we can all be proud of the school project Butterfly Friends runs in The Gambia.

Among those who are now employed, we found teachers, doctors, nurses, bank employees, bakers, police officers, supermarket cashiers, hairdressers, architects, and a product manager at an NGO in The Gambia—yes, virtually every profession is represented among our former students. But there are still many who are attending universities, colleges, vocational schools, and teacher training colleges. It takes time to become a doctor or an economist, but they are well on their way to a bright future. We’re also delighted that one of our former students was named Gambia’s best entrepreneur of 2023.