Those who keep up with our efforts to run and maintain a school in the poorest part of Serrekunda, The Gambia, will be well aware of the project and how it's funded. Following the link should give you the information you need.

We provide a unique service in the London Corner area of Serrekunda. We educate, feed and give medical care to 90 children, free of charge, and also run free Adult Literacy/General Education for mostly women in the community, mostly mums, and some dads. It greatly empowers the women! (One day they, too, could be a C of E bishop now!)

This all costs us almost £1000 per month to run. We get the money by having around 70 people who give regularly by Direct Debit, mostly around £5 per month, but some with a bigger contribution according to what they have left over! The contributers come from all over the UK, and one or two from more far flung lands!

Until recently, this was all ticking over nicely! However, the recent changes in the value of the Dalasi has meant that we are facing trouble and may have to abandon the feeding programme. We were getting around D50 to the £1, but now we are only getting about D30-35. Our school therefore is only getting three fifths of what they got in the last year or so. Giving amongst our regulars has increased, and some hold fund- raising events to try to meet the shortfall, but there is still a huge gap to fill.

When I started this project seven years ago, we were losing around four or five children a year. Child mortality was high. Since the feeding programme was introduced, along with the medical care, this is now a big fat zero! Our children are fed well at least once every day and are fit and healthy. Chest infections and malaria are less likely due to the Adult Education classes and the nutrition we provide for our kids.

Wouldn't it be a pity if that were to end?

I would ask you to have a read about our work and if you felt moved to, think about helping us in any way you can. You may even know of someone or some charity that could help us financially. We ourselves are a registered charity in Scotland. It's critical we close the gap before the next academic year begins.

For only £1 per week, or maybe a little more if you can afford it, you can help us save some little lives. Even a one-off donation would help!