Bajiran Community School

Project Information

Kombo Central District,

West Coast Region

The Gambia

Community
Infrastructure

Residents of Bajiran

Fuladu Foundation

USD 19,500

(GMD 1.3 million)

Project Overview

Education is a cornerstone of sustainable development and community resilience. In Bajiran, residents have identified the urgent need to strengthen the local school environment so that children can learn in dignified, structured, and supportive conditions.

The Alhuda Arabic School in Bajiran serves over 400 students, including 120 children in early childhood education. Today, the youngest learners are taught together in a single makeshift structure made of wood and corrugated sheets.

This situation places the youngest learners in overcrowded and fragile conditions, limiting both teaching effectiveness and student engagement.

Beyond infrastructure, the school faces serious financial and operational constraints:

A number of children, including orphans and vulnerable students, attend without paying fees
Teachers continue to serve despite limited or irregular compensation
The school operates with very limited learning materials and basic resources

These realities highlight both the vulnerability of the school and the remarkable commitment of the community to keep education accessible to all.

Phase 1: Construction of Two Classrooms for Early Childhood Development (ECD)

The Fuladu Foundation is mobilizing resources to construct two permanent classrooms as a first step toward improving learning conditions.

The objective is to:

Separate ECD1 and ECD2 into proper classroom spaces
Replace temporary structures with durable, weather-resistant infrastructure
Provide a more structured environment for both students and teachers

Based on international guidance, classrooms are typically designed to accommodate around 40 students. However, given the realities on the ground and the limited resources available, these two classrooms are expected to serve a larger number of students, while still significantly reducing current overcrowding.

Estimated Cost: USD 19,500 Contributions are currently being mobilized

This Phase 1 estimate includes:

Full construction works – 80-85%
Essential classroom equipment: 10-15%
Basic solar lighting and handwashing facilities – 5-10%

This intervention will immediately improve learning conditions while laying the foundation for further expansion.

A Broader Educational Need

While Phase 1 focuses on early childhood education, it represents only part of the school’s overall needs.

Additional priorities identified by the community include:

Two additional classrooms, to:
- Separate Grade 1 and Grade 2, which are currently combined
- Create a dedicated classroom for Grade 6, enabling full primary education locally

Support to teachers, to strengthen continuity and quality of instruction
Targeted support for orphans and vulnerable children, to ensure sustained access to education
Learning materials and basic furniture, to improve the classroom environment
Fencing of the school compound, to protect the learning space

The Fuladu Foundation will address these additional needs progressively, as resources become available, building on the initial classroom construction under Phase 1.

Project Components (Phase 1)

Construction of two classrooms for ECD1 and ECD2
Installation of solar lighting
Installation of a basic handwashing facility
Initial support to improve the learning environment

Project Status

Resource Mobilization Ongoing

This project is a priority identified through consultations with community leaders, teachers, and residents. The Foundation is currently mobilizing resources to initiate construction.

Construction will begin as soon as funding is secured, with an estimated implementation period of 6 to 12 weeks.

Community Impact

This initiative will directly improve the learning conditions of young children in Bajiran.

By reducing overcrowding and replacing temporary structures, the project will:

Enable more effective teaching and better student engagement
Improve daily learning conditions for early childhood students
Support teachers working under constrained conditions
Strengthen school participation, particularly for orphans and vulnerable children

More broadly, the project contributes to reinforcing education as a foundation for opportunity, stability, and long-term community resilience.

Call to Action

Support the Construction of Classrooms in Bajiran

Your contribution will directly support Phase 1: the construction of two classrooms for early childhood students.