Hi everyone, best wishes to everyone for a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year!

Apologies for not being able to update this blog sooner but life in Africa is certainly nothing like the UK.

My husband's Mum passed away just three days after we arrived back here so we have had a deeply sad start to our time here.

The container arrived three weeks late and finally we were able to unload, re-pack and distribute many of the items donated.

The old people, babies and children in Kerewan Samba Sira have benefitted from blankets, adults jumpers and cardigans (it can be really cold at night), children's clothes, shoes, toys and books.

Another sad incident happened when one young Mum, Meta, left her baby and young son alone in their hut while she fetched water from the well early in the morning.

The son lit a match, set fire to the hut and the baby girl, just a few months old was burned to death.

The family have lost everything so the villagers have donated clothes and essential items to help them through their ordeal.

I have beautiful photographs I took of the children just two days prior to this horrific accident which could so easily have been avoided.

On a far more positive note, the nursery classroom/library in Madiana has been built and only the roof remains to be completed. I'm hoping to have it up and running by April.

Terry and Marilyn from Plymouth are coming over to visit in February so they will be able to see the progress we have made.

Our banana garden has been a great success, masses of bananas and shoots.

Our chickens remain healthy and incredibly noisy and we have set up a tailoring workshop with two of the donated sewing machines, providing income opportunities for the local people.

So, all in all, a successful three months.

I will miss Christmas and New Year in the UK, but wish you all every happiness. Thank you again to all those of you who have supported us in the past.

Best regards

A big thank you to everyone

Well it's Saturday evening and since last Thursday when the Herald ran the story of my move from Plymouth to The Gambia my feet haven't touched the ground.

I have been totally overwhelmed by the warm and generous response from the people of Plymouth and Saltash.

I have been driving around from morning until evening every day collecting bags and boxes full of books, children's toys, games, clothing, shoes, bedding, computer equipment and sewing machines taking them down to our storage units and packing everything carefully ready for the long sea voyage to The Gambia.

I have been touched by the thoughtfulness of young children giving up well-loved toys to the Gambian kids who are far less fortunate than themselves, I've nearly cried when pensioners have selflessly donated money to help me enable those who cannot afford an education to learn to read and write.

Residents of Greenbank Court you are absolute gems.

I have photographed all the people who have donated items and will display these photos on the walls in the classrooms in The Gambia.

I will also be snapping the happy recipients of all these wonderful gifts, surplus to Plymouth's requirements but essential additions to progress in The Gambia, a developing country.

The kind sponsors in Plymouth will have photographs and updates sent to them so they will be able to see their kindness in action.

The beautiful toys and books will give hundreds of children opportunities to learn and have fun that they would otherwise not experience.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your actions.

My favourite saying is "the smallest deed is better than the grandest intention" and I thank all of you who have picked up the phone and responded.

If you haven't yet managed to get through to me please call or text on 07739 797059. Until next time, Debbie x