Safe, Child-Friendly and Functional Classrooms for the Poorest Children
Project Status:
In implementation
Funding Topic:
Quality Education
Project Location:
Gambia / Bassé region, Koring municipality, Perai School
Duration:
2025 – 2026
Target Group:
Poorest pre-school and primary school children
Direct Beneficiaries:
from 500 to 1,200 children
SDGs:
- Quality Education (SDG 4)
Gambia is a small country (2.7 million inhabitants) full of young people, hope and potential. However, for many children, everyday school life begins under conditions that barely allow for learning. A lack of infrastructure and equipment and overcrowded classrooms make access to high-quality education considerably more difficult. Almost 55% of students drop out of school early.
The YOU Foundation’s project aims to turn the long-neglected kindergarten and the dilapidated elementary school into a place where children feel safe, enjoy learning and can grow with confidence. With targeted structural, technical and educational measures, the YOU Foundation is creating the basis for sustainable education and new prospects in line with the Gambian development agenda.
Project Objectives:
- Creating a safe, functional and inclusive learning environment for the kindergarten and school
- Improving the building infrastructure and hygiene
- Securing electricity through solar energy
- Improving the quality of teaching through new equipment, materials and IT tools
- Strengthening nutrition, safety and leisure activities
- Creating space for play, exercise and community
- Improving educational opportunities in the long term and reducing inequalities
Activities
- Renovation and expansion of the school building and sanitary facilities
- Construction of an IT room
- Reconstruction and equipping of the school kitchen
- Construction of a protective perimeter wall with access gate
- Installation of a solar energy system
- Provision of furniture, blackboards and teaching materials
- Design of the schoolyard with sports areas, playground and school gardens
Results Achieved:
- Safe, child-friendly and sufficiently large classrooms
- Functioning sanitary facilities and hygienic kitchen for school meals
- Reliable power supply for teaching and safety
- Improved learning conditions thanks to appropriate equipment
- Protected school grounds and attractive leisure and exercise facilities
- Better educational and development opportunities for up to 1,100 children in the long term
