May and I realised that there is little point in sponsoring kids to go to a school where they won't learn properly because many of their teachers are not properly qualified.

The Gambian population is multi tribal language speaking, so all teaching is done in English, this is hard when the teachers do not speak good English themselves.

What is needed is English speaking teachers to help the Gambian teachers do their job better and to improve the teaching resources that are used in the schools.

GTS is therefore offering all the support it can to any teaching volunteers who want a year out from the UK 'rat race' to do some good in Gambia.

On arrival in Gambia, you will stay in the Atlantic resort area for a few weeks to settle in to this very different environment - both culturally and environmentally.You will meet the people and visit urban schools and urban teachers. GTS will run several small workshops so you can discover the problems that face the teachers here.

From here we will take you to a rural Gambian village, where you will stay with a local family, paying only for the food you will be eating and a small contribution for the room you will stay in.

The food is local food, you will have facilities to cook your own or eat with your family, your water will be filtered and purified and you will have facilities to make tea and coffee.

GTS will be supporting you and a host will stay with you for a few days while you settle in to the new accomodation and the new school, so you get to know the teachers and the pupils and the village community, you will never be more that a phone call away from GTS support.

There are opportunities for two somes but in general being by yourself will be better for you, in learning the language, culture and traditions.

If a break for 6 to 12 months appeals to you, please contact us, to discuss your plans and the estimated costs, which will be far less than you might imagine.

Improving the standards of teaching will not help pay for a single child to go to school, but it will dramatically improve the educational value for all those who can afford to attend and the effects of your visit will continue for long into the future.

We have school contacts in several locations but would dearly love to help first at Salikene Nursery school and the Junior & Middle school in the town.

As GTS develops more links with like minded people trying to help The Gambia and its people we have had some strange requests for help, including a piano tuner, and a graphic designer, do you have a skill and some time to help in Gambia?

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