A large percentage of funds raised during 2008 were used to continue the important and essential programme of providing both breakfast and lunch for children at the school. With such a huge increase in world food prices during the year we wish to thank every person who helped in enabling us to continue this programme. The good news for this year is that both Muslim Aid UK and World Food Aid have agreed to assist with the feeding programme. Muslim Aid has now opened a West African office not far from the school.

It was a year of ups and downs. When Sheridan Hudson resigned for personal reasons we were left with the massive headache of finding someone to take over the management of the Friends of Govi website. As a trustee she created and managed the website which has generated considerable funds for the Friends. Fellow trustee, David Pointon, assisted with finding a solution and Carol Haynes of Dales Computers has done a fantastic job of revamping the website. She is the web manager and Pip Land is the editor.

Prior to travelling out in November the Friends were contacted by Dave Dearly of Brieleys Optical equipment with an offer to trial an Opti Mouse, a device the size of a normal computer mouse but which plugs into a TV set.

It is then used to scan book print with enlarged letters appearing on the screen. We managed to purchase a second hand television and it was quite an adventure transporting it back to the school.

The results were fantastic with some pupils being able to read who had not done so for a long time. There are more pupils in the school who are classified as having low vision rather than being totally blind so the Opti Mouse is a wonderful asset.

Four reconditioned computers have been promised by the Chief Constable of the Norfolk Constabulary. One will be equipped with the new Thunder programme which has type and talk.

Great progress has been made at the school this year. The Government has taken over the education of the integrated students under its Integrated Education Programme (IEP). This means that all students who obtain level Grade 5, are able to type, read Braille and speak English, are now integrated into a local school. This includes Adam Sarr, the girl who was saved from growing up in a dog's kennel.

Sponsorship money is now split depending upon where a child is at school and is paid when Joan and I visit the Gambia. We have also been able to follow up on those who have been integrated into local schools to make sure they have Braille machines and are receiving sufficient support. All visually impaired pupils return to the Govi Resource Centre for special education lessons and disability events.

As a result of the IEP the Govi Resource Centre has become a nursery and lower basic school with an adult education section. The Friends of Govi continues to provide funds for the many needs of the school but not the other projects that GOVI supports.

Sadly early in 2008 there was a theft of bananas from the school’s extensive plantation. This provides the pupils with extra nutrition and the surplus is sold to provide funds for the school. It was quite expensive to upgrade the security around the school.

Rug making has become popular with the girls and young women and the audio football game, goal ball, with the boys. As the roundabout was so popular a larger one has been constructed and installed thanks to Lamin Saidy.

Joan and I were able to attend the World Disability Day event in Banjul on December 3. At the end of the march along the Banjul Highway there was a talk by local dignitaries and then a party sponsored by SightSavers International. There was a lot of excitement as this was, for many, the only party they had attended that year. A big thank you to all the staff for the work and effort that made that a very successful day.

NB: We have heard that Ali Sallah, the peripatetic teacher at the school, has had an accident and broken his leg.

PHILLIP FELLER, December 2008

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