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Pupils experience Gambia adventure
SCHOOL pupils travelled to Africa for a life-changing trip that opened their eyes to a different culture.
Twenty students and seven staff from Hartlepool's English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, in Catcote Road, jetted off to The Gambia last month.
The group flew into the capital of Banjul before travelling to partner school Darsalami Upper Basic School, based in Kartong in the south west of the country.
They roughed it, camping on the beach about an hour's drive away, and got a taste of the hardship facing people in the country, with only a stand pipe to provide water to wash and cook with.
The teenagers took part in a traditional dance and visited the village elder and church leaders from the Muslim community.
They also visited a reptile farm and got to see crocodiles up-close, as well as bartering for a bargain in the market town of Brikama.
The Year 11 pupils funded their own trips and also raised 8,000 that has been donated to Jole Rider, a charity which collects, refurbishes and ships bikes to Africa.
The pupils visited Gunjur, a small coastal town in south-western Gambia, where they handed out bikes to youngsters who will use them to get to school.
They also visited a college to sort through books they had donated for a library.
Conor Russell, 16, said: "Every man, woman, boy and girl had a lovely smile on their face, and yet we were in the middle of a poverty-stricken area.
"Water was not freely available, there were no toilets, not every person could attain even simple clothing."
James Leslie, 16, said: "On a couple of occasions we had the opportunity to play several traditional instruments. We were able to try a guitar-style instrument, the kora.
"We also had a group drum lesson which I found very interesting. The drum lesson led me to buy a mini-drum from the market which is a constant reminder of my great experience in The Gambia."
Zak Morrill, 15, said: "I would recommend others to go to The Gambia because it is a once in a lifetime experience that changes the way you look at life."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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