The Dales Team of the Friends of Govi UK delivered two minibuses and a lot of equipment to the school for the blind in the Gambia in December 2006. The minibuses were in good condition after the 3,448 mile journey from North Yorkshire to Serrekunda as were the nine team members.

On December 11 the team and school staff unloaded the equipment which included second-hand computers provided by the Methodist School in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Within hours the team leader, David Pointon, had set up the first computer plus a printer and scanner, much to the delight of the head teacher, Sarjo Bajinka. "Our printer broke down yesterday," Mr Bajinka commented. With the help of other team members David had all the other computers working within a week including the computer-driven braille embosser.

The official presentation of the minibuses took place on Wednesday, December 13, and was shown on Gambian TV for several days.

This joyous occasion was presided over by the chairman of Govi’s national committee, Mohammed Kora.

In his speech Mr Kora thanked the Dales Team for meeting the desperate need for transport at the school and described the fruitful partnership between the organisation and the Friends of Govi since 1997.

Mr Bajinka stated: "The education of one blind child is so expensive that Govi cannot do it alone and who ever comes out to compliment their effort is always highly appreciated."

Mr Bajinka said that for the first time in the history of blind education in the Gambia Govi had introduced a pre-school for visually impaired children. There were now 40 children attending the school and pre-school at the Govi Resource Centre. Govi has two peripatetic teachers who help to support the 13 students now integrated into higher level government schools.

Over £11,000 of the money raised by the Dales Team was spent on vehicle expenses which included buying and servicing the minibuses. The team members paid their own travelling expenses. With the money still in the kitty and additional donations, more seats have been installed in one of the minibuses and mopeds are being bought for the peripatetic teachers. The latter have been spending at least half of their school time and salaries using public transport to reach students.

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