At the annual general meeting of the Friends held on March 6 it was unanimously agreed that David Pointon should take over as chair person from Phil Feller.

David warmly thanked Phil and Joan for all the work they had done since the charity was registered in 1998 in raising funds and doing so much for the children at the school in Serekunda. Phil is now the official secretary of the charity with Joan continuing as the treasurer/accountant.Phil thanked David for his support over the years and for that of the Yorkshire branch of the charity with its treasurer, Frank Whitfield.

Phil reported on the various problems which had occurred during the past year and it was agreed that David, Phil, Joan and Pip Land should visit the Gambia later in the year to have meetings with the GOVI Board, and the District Education Department and its Integrated Education Programme. The way that the Friends are at present working through the IEP to assist the school rather than through GOVI was described as a pilot scheme.David said it was not clear how things will work out in the future.

It was agreed that the possibility of sponsoring children while they were attending the school should be more widely publicised. Sponsorship should be about £10 to £12 a month which would cover feeding a child; providing school uniform, badges and shoes; and the cost of any necessary medicines. Any excess would go towards the cost of caring for the other children in the school. The Friends will research the possibility of continuing such sponsorships through IEP once a child has been integrated into a government school.