Nick Swarbrick (leader of group)

• Internet access ~ the new office is now fully functioning and we are able to offer internet access at a rate of D50 for one hour. We donate 50% of the internet money towards the staff sponsorship scheme

• Chef bringing more dishes to the ever growing menu

• Staff achieve full marks on food hygiene training

Student sponsorship

Other donations

One of our visitors has paid to have furniture made for 2 classrooms at Kassa Kunda School, another has paid for eye treatment for one of our staff – there is no end to the generosity.

We were relieved to see the container full of donated equipment from the UK arrive here late in 2008 and many local schools, groups and individuals have benefited.

Young people from Chester decorating a classroom at Kassa Kunda School

A student at Gambia’s school for the blind using donated equipment from the container

We are now planning and preparing for the staff sponsorship scheme to continue in 2009/10. If you can support us in any way then please email for more details. As last year we will continue to pay staff their salary throughout the summer and give paid time away from work to attend courses.

The construction of a new office / reception is now complete at the lodge. This will enable our visiting guests to have access to Internet and enable us to continue to offer a high service to our guests.

Jo & Butch are currently in the UK organising for a container of educational equipment to be sent to the Gambia in early October 2008. They are working in partner ship with Youth In Need Gambia (a UK based charity) and The Nyodema Kaffo (a Gambian based charity) If you want to get involved in the container project you can either send an email via the website or check out the container group on facebook called ‘sending a container to Gambia’

An appeal was sent to the friends of Gunjur Project Lodge for financial support for a member of our staff team who is unable to read and write due lack of funds for schooling when younger. The response was fantastic and has enabled us to offer every member of our team the opportunity for studies or to nominate a member of their family to receive the sponsorship. 

Abdou Marnee is progressing well with his English proficiency course. He said ‘I am so happy I have the opportunity to learn to read and write, I thought I would have to go to school with small children but I am learning with other adults. Now I realise I do not need to feel shame for starting to learn now. I feel honoured to have been given this opportunity.’ Abdou is attending ‘’’’

Leah Sylva, Ablie Bojang, Sol Damphe & Sainey Cammarra have all enrolled in computer studies.  Ablie said ‘I never thought I would be able to use a computer, now I understand the importance of the computer and how the internet can learn you so much about the rest of the world. Its fantastic’ The computer courses are being held via ‘Jollof Tutors’ in Brikama.

It has been wonderful to see how each member of our team have personally developed through this opportunity.

Pa Jang, Momadou & Kodu Njie have all nominated their children to receive the sponsorship. This will be paid at the beginning of next term.

We put tiles in all our rooms to give more comfort to our guests. We are also in the proces of building our new reception area. Pictures will follow soon on the site!

On Saturday 10th of May we will be holding our anual staff party. Wanna join us? Let us know!

Representatives from Cyclafric in Belgium came earlier this year and offered some financial and moral support to local cyclists who wanted to start a cycling club.

The Delta group from Chester brought 24 brand new pairs of trainers for the Delta girls football team over here. Trouble was – the girls were so thrilled they didn’t want to wear them for playing football!!

The Group from Darland school in Wrexham brought information about the dangers of smoking and took part in a peer education programme in Sifoe School.

The group from Plas Madoc Communities in Wrexham had their trip to Gunjur Project  highlighted on BBC Wales. People kept phoning and e mailing to say they could not believe they had seen Alagi on the tv!!

Our solar panels are helping the place to run much more efficiently and the generator policeman is not as stressed as he used to be!! – Hairdryers and straighteners are still on his hit list though!

The Easter weekend was an extravaganza of drumming and dance as the Kartong festival got underway. We were able to give some sponsorship to the festival that was enjoyed by our guests - a group of djembe drummers from Scotland led by Stuart Dinwoodie who had received tuition from Guinean drummer Ousman.

Storme and Sarah who run Earthsong multi cultural music workshops in London came to The Gambia to learn Kora and Balafon they had lessons with Sherifo Konteh  and stayed their entire 3 weeks at The Gunjur Project instead of the planned 3 days!