Hello from sunny/cloudy/hot/cold Plymouth!

I am back in my hometown for a few weeks to catch up with family and friends, fundraise and set up links with schools and groups across the city.

Had the pleasure this week of visiting Tamarside Community College and Widey Court Primary and tomorrow will be talking at Keyham Barton Primary.

Pupils of all ages have shown great interest in learning about their African friends in The Gambia.

The fundraising too is going steadily and I would like to thank some special people for their contributions.

Firstly to the forward-thinking, dynamic senior management team at Tamarside Community College who have pledged to sponsor a solar panel and transformer for our classroom/library.

This important piece of kit will enable us to open in the evenings and set up computer lessons for the children and adults too, reaching out to the wider community.

In a place with no electricity, this technology will make a massive difference to their lives and futures.

I was given a guided tour of Tamarside and was struck by the fabulous resources they have there; a hairdressing salon, construction site, wonderful textiles department to mention just a few surprises; any parent considering sending their child there should feel safe in the knowledge that their child will have access to the latest state-of-the-art equipment and a bright future.

As a qualified, experienced secondary teacher, I have only good things to say about the school and what I saw there during my visit.

The staff and students will also be helping us with our banana project in the Gambia, more about that in a later blog!

Another huge thank you to Sian (superwoman!) Retallick of Hyde Park Pharmacy whose generous donation will enable us to replace our ant-eaten wooden window frames with solid, secure metal ones.

Sian, you are an example to everyone of a successful business professional with a heart of gold. Thank you.

Thank you too to Edina Worthington, the bubbly blonde who runs Adfab Advertising and Print in Mutley. Edina is relocating to The Watermark in Ivybridge and despite being surrounded by piles of boxes and paperwork, managed to find time to support us too.

Edina's years' of experience in her field and her expert advice helped me greatly when I was promoting my former business and enabled me to sell it to carry out the charity work in The Gambia.

She continues with her support and advice and I appreciate it greatly.

My final thank you goes to all the individuals who have been slipping me a fiver, tenner or twenty pound note with wonderfully supportive and encouraging comments about the work I am doing in Africa.

Your kind comments are really cherished and make me determined to continue to do everything possible to aid poverty and help improve education in one of the poorest countries in the World.

I would love to hear from you while I am here, please feel free to contact me at dwdebs@aol.com or on my mobile 07596 249987.

I can be contacted in the Gambia on 00220 7376880. If you want to see my gorgeous husband, unfortunately I left him behind in The Gambia (still fixing the roof!) can't wait to get back to him and my huge family of pupils.

Until next time, bye for now

Debbie Williams