Marlborough students in The Gambia
Tuesday 13th September 2016
The Marlborough Brandt Group invited Susan and I to a presentation by student volunteers of their 2016 summer visit to The Gambia. We were met by Karen Bulsara, the new Director of MBG who took over in February 2016 from the indefatigable Dr. Nick Maurice. Karen is also a Director of St John's.
We also met Anita Brew of MBG who had accompanied the 13 students on their month long visit to Gunjar. All of the students took part in recounting the more memorable aspects of their visit, backed up by photographs and a short video. They had helped to build a new school and having seen it through to completion, were able to witness the delight of the young children for whom this was a new classroom. It was clear that the volunteers had enjoyed being a part of a very different community and that they were overwhelmed by the kindness of the host families and the people of Gunjar as a whole. The bond between them was apparent and it was obviously quite a wrench when they left to return to Marlborough.
The presentation was not only interesting but also heart-warming and served to remind us just how important the bond is between the Marlborough Brandt Group and Gunjar. Long may it continue!