The Jersey Start - early beginnings

In 1996, following a holiday visit to The Gambia, Robin and Carol Mallet decided to establish a technical training school for older students, to learn wood work and metal work, and so help them into employment within the local economy.

They decided upon Sohm village, as a place that needed secondary education and where the village elders were prepared to give land and support for their efforts.  They set about fund raising in Jersey and within a couple of years had raised enough money to build teaching workshops for the students.

The one-time skills centre now a fully functioning secondary school

The Gambian government were keen to see this resource develop and wanted a wider ranging curriculum, aimed at a broader range of students. A secondary school, in fact!

Since 2006, the government has paid teachers' wages and the Jersey charity does all it can to raise money for more classrooms, to accommodate the rising school roll. The relationship works well, to the benefit of the village and its youngsters.

• The Jersey Start - early beginnings
• Our Involvement - progress, to date
• All Above Board - our legal status
• Local Ownership - all together