Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Aid team home from Gambia mercy trip
Bishop praises their work
Aid workers from Lanarkshire charity Project Gambia have returned from their most successful mission ever to the poverty-stricken West African state.
Lynne MacDonald, Paul Lafferty, Frank Devine and Charlie Docherty flew to Banjul to meet needy families.
Project Gambia had been raising money all year to support the 340 boys and girls who attend St John’s School for the Deaf in Serekunda.
Funds came from their summer ball in June and weekly presentations on their work at different Catholic parishes.
Gabriel Mendy, Bishop of Banjul, thanked the charity for the support they have provided for the schoolchildren.
The aid workers distributed blankets to some of the most needy families in the township of Manjai, on the outskirts of Serekunda.
They also secured the school feeding programme for 201819, which ensures every pupil receives a hot meal every day, and delivered 340 new school uniforms.
Project Gambia co- founder Paul Lafferty said: “We’re working on other interventions that will enhance the educational experiences of the children in a number of ways and we will be back at the school in March with new school bags crammed with essential items for each of the 340 pupils.”
Co- founder Frank Devine added: “We want to thank everyone who has donated to Project Gambia, thus ensuring we are able to deliver an enhanced level of support to the children.
“We want to especially mention the various Catholic parishes in the West of Scotland who have invited us into their churches where we’ve been given the opportunity to tell parishioners all about our work with these marginalised and disadvantaged children.
“They have all responded to our appeals magnificently.”