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Nfamara
Jarju - the Headteacher of Bakoteh School in Senagambia, spent a very
enjoyable three weeks in the United Kingdom in June 2008, staying
with his sponsors, Helen Downie and Anthony Bond.
Nfamara’s
visit was both educational and cultural based, giving him the opportunity
to take part in many activities in the UK and to enjoy life within another
culture.
After
a 6-hour delay arriving at Gatwick, with a quick stop in Spain, courtesy
of Gambia Experience, Nfamara settled easily and comfortably to his
temporary home in Worcester.
Helen
and Tony had arranged an interesting three-week programme with visits to a
number of Primary and Nursery schools, four days in Cornwall, in addition
to sightseeing and meeting family and friends.
As
well as learning about the English education system Nfamara shared vital
and fun information about life and education in The Gambia getting a great
reception from all the teachers and children whenever he visited a
school.
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Children
in the UK listening to
Nfamara
telling them about
The
Gambia |
High
on Nfamara’s list of things to achieve in the UK, was to learn more
about phonics and to see how English schools put this exciting way of
learning into practice in the classrooms. He was not disappointed, he felt
he was returning to the Gambia with lots of ideas to add to his own
knowledge of using phonics and to would be able to improve how children
learn and teachers teach in his school. He also returned with some phonics
resources given by the schools and the most recent teaching DVD’s and
CD’s from the DFES resource library.
In
addition to phonics lessons, he sat in on English and PE lessons, theatre
workshops and even a puppet-making workshop. He had the opportunity to
visit Bath Spa University, an Early Years teaching college, and to
contribute to the Religious Education lesson for new teachers.
| Nfamara made
many good contacts for potential twinning with his school and for possible
teacher visits to the Gambia, as well as receiving some great teaching
resources from the schools. I am sure the long-term benefits obtained from
his schools visits will be of enormous benefit to Bakoteh School, and to
other GETS schools that he is linked with in the future.
Callow
End School in Worcester
gave Nfamara a counting frame
for his school in The Gambia |
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As
well as being the recipient of lots of things from English schools,
Nfamara was able to bring a vision of life in the Gambia to all the
children and teachers he met on his trip. Through the use of photographs,
discussions and Gambian artefacts, he brought his country alive in the
classrooms.
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A
steam railway trip, barbeques, visits to UK families and National Trust properties,
hill and moorland walks, boat trips, a visit to Stratford on Avon, and
fish and chips from the chippy were all new experiences that he enjoyed.
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One of the highlights of the trip was an invitation to spend a day at the
Eden Project in Cornwall as a guest of the person in charge of developing
educational and worldwide gardens, including a Gambian garden.
While
visiting Cornwall Nfamara had the opportunity to speak to the local
Cornish Guardian who took pictures, learned about the proposed Sunrise
Centre at Busamabala, and as a result produced a short article in the
newspaper.
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Nfamara
kept a daily diary, and many photographs were taken adding to his rich
experience and enabling him to share his holiday with family and friends,
teachers and students when he returned to the Gambia.
Helen
Downie
July
2008
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