A SCHOOL in Gambia, Africa, is set to benefit from fundraising by a Dawlish woman.

Chrissie Taylor, who owns the Flower Shop in The Strand, Dawlish, was on holiday in Gambia last November, and part of her itinerary included a visit to a school.

'Twenty of us were taken around the school by the headmaster,' said Mrs Taylor,

'At the end of the tour, he said that donations would be welcome, as they have a lot of building work that needs to be done.

'Sixteen people just walked out as he was asking this. I couldn't believe it. Then, when I went outside, I saw one of the tourists asking to have her picture taken with some of the children, which made me mad.

'I really wanted to help them, so when I returned home, I told my husband that this was what I wanted to raise money for.'

'The money is needed so that a wall, at a cost of £2,250, can be built around the school, as it is in the bush, and a partly completed building is to be turned into a library.

'Gramercy Hall School, Torquay, which is closing in July, has donated loads of books, and their last term is going to be a charity term, specifically for this cause.'

The school in Africa has around 500 pupils. Because there are not enough teachers, eight to 13 year olds attend in the morning, and anybody over the age of 15 goes in the afternoon.

'That is the only way they can teach these children,' said Mrs Taylor.

'The standards of the classrooms would be a shock to children from England. You have a breezeblock shell, a dirt floor and old makeshift tables and benches. There are hardly any books or pencils. These youngsters just rely on what people give them.

'Even though they hardly have anything, they respect the school and teachers immensely. It's nothing like you would get from some youngsters in the UK. I'm hoping that by the time Gramercy closes, we will have enough books to be able to stock the library out there.

'The only way forward for these children is through education, so if I can help them in any way, I will.'

If anyone thinks they can help with a donation of either books or money – £300 has been raised so far – then call Mrs Taylor on 01626 862224.