The Hartlepool teacher gave up her British way of life for two years while she lived and worked in Gambia thanks to the Voluntary Services Overseas organisation.

Now she's looked back on some golden memories of a land where whole families lived without electricity, water was at a premium and teachers rarely had books.



FEW people have the courage to swap their whole lifestyle at 52.
But Frieda Wilkinson decided it was exactly the right time to take her career in education in a completely new direction.

Gone were the days of the British classroom complete with books galore and modern facilities. Gambia became her workplace - complete with golden beaches to enjoy in her spare time and huge classes with few books during her working day.

"It is a totally different education system and a lot of the teachers don't even have teacher books," said Frieda.

"They do a lot of learning as a class and learning by repetition.

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"There are lots of challenges out there but they do a good job in difficult circumstances."

Frieda, from the Throston Grange area of Hartlepool, is originally from Bradford.

She moved to Hartlepool in 1973 after securing a job teaching maths and IT at English Martyrs School.

Frieda spent the next three decades teaching at the school.

But then, a change in direction beckoned and the Voluntary Services Overseas was there to help. She'sone of 30,000 people to have been help by VSO which celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

Frieda, who is single, said: "These days teaching is more than just teaching children because there is a lot more administration and bureaucracy involved.

"I decided to apply to the VSO because I wanted to do it and I was interested to see if I had the necessary skills needed to help people in developing countries."

Frieda travelled to London for an assessment day and was handed a placement in the Republic of The Gambia, commonly known as Gambia, a country in western Africa.

Gambia College, in Brikama, needed a professional to help train maths to primary school teachers.

Frieda said: "Gambia is totally different but people are people where ever you go. I lived near the tourist area so I had quite a western lifestyle.

"We do take a lot of things for granted over here because many people in the poorer areas didn't even have water or electricity.

"It is a little bit like stepping back in time. A lot of their social time revolves around the extended family because there isn't really that much to do.

"It is a totally different way of life but it just takes a little bit of getting used to."

Frieda spent her spare time travelling and going to the beach.

Gambian children are taught in English so Frieda didn't struggle with the language but made a conscious effort to learn the local language of Mandinka.

She said: "I was quite proud that I could manage some of the greetings and I knew all of the numbers which allowed me to go the market and get all my fruit and vegetables."

Frieda would spend her days lecturing the students for two hours and then go into local schools and observe the students on their teaching placements.

There has been a rapid expansion in the number of children going to school as a result of the government's aim to give education to all primary age children.

"However, there hasn't been a rapid expansion in the number of teachers so they are teaching very large classes without many resources.

"The children even have to buy their own books which means the teachers are reluctant to do much individual work because the children can't afford to replace the books.

Frieda, who now works as an administrator at the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, hasn't turned her back on teaching.

"The VSO gave me the opportunity to do something I wouldn't have been able to do in the UK because I'm not qualified to train, just to teach.

"It was all very different and strange when I first went over there but by the time I left I felt as though I was doing a good job and was part of the college community.

"My time in Gambia makes me feel proud that I was able to share the skills that I have to help other people develop and achieve their goals."

A spokesman for the VSO said: "Volunteers like Frieda, who give an awful lot of time and commitment, make a huge difference in developing countries. They train people who then help to train thousands of other people so the ripple effect is tremendous."