New Kitchen at Bakalarr Basic Cycle School

Background

Bakalarr Basic Cycle School, in the North Bank Region, is reached from Banjul by using the ferry across the Gambia River to Barra, followed by a road journey of about 15km. [ Map showing Bakalarr BCS ] The school serves five local villages, and has Grades from 1 to 9, as well as a nursery class. Pageant began visiting the school in 2001, and has helped in many ways over the years, but much of the credit for the huge improvements achieved is down to the enthusiasm and commitment of its headmaster Mr Bakary Gitteh.

During the summer of 2001 Pageant donated enough money to provide the building materials for a new kitchen at Bakalarr Basic Cycle School. The old kitchen which has a rustic veranda with a roof consisting of palm leaves. The new kitchen is much appreciated, particularly by the three 'dinner ladies' who cook for 300 plus children every day.

Bakalarr school cooks and their children outside the old kitchen

The shell of the new kitchen

The headmaster inspects the completed kitchen

One of the cooks in the new kitchen