by Nic Earls | Mar 7, 2026 | Uncategorized
After a fantastic week in The Gambia, it is time for us to return home. The lobby is full of packed bags, and students who are a little tired but full of stories.
It has been a brilliant trip. The students have worked incredibly hard and thrown themselves into every activity and shown fantastic character throughout the week. They leave with some lifelong memories, new friendships, and plenty of experiences to talk about for a long time to come.
We will be checking out of the hotel at 12pm, with our airport pickup scheduled for 2:30pm. Our flight departs at 5:25pm, and we are expecting to land back in the UK around midnight. After the final stretch of the journey, we anticipate arriving back at school at roughly 3:30am.
Parents will be kept updated with any changes to timings and our estimated arrival back at The Earls.
Thank you for following along with our Gambian adventure.
Signing off Gambia 2026!
Team Project Gambia
by Nic Earls | Mar 7, 2026 | Uncategorized
Project Gambia – Day 7
Our final day in The Gambia was every bit as busy, brilliant, and slightly glitter-covered as the rest of the trip. It was a day filled with creativity, community visits, and a few emotional goodbyes to the wonderful schools that have welcomed us so warmly this week.
The morning began with visits to three local schools: Wisdom Nursery, Bright Minds Nursery, and St Peter’s. Before long, our students found themselves leading some very energetic arts and crafts sessions. Glue pots were in high demand, colouring pencils were passed around like prized possessions, and masterpieces began appearing faster than anyone could keep track of. The younger students brought endless enthusiasm, and our group quickly discovered that glitter, stickers, and enthusiastic high-fives are a universal language.
After a busy morning of crafting (and possibly wearing just as much glitter as they used), we stopped for lunch, giving everyone a chance to refuel and proudly compare their artistic creations.
In the afternoon we returned to Omega School, where our students joined the class for even more arts and crafts activities. The classroom was buzzing with creativity as everyone worked side-by-side, sharing ideas, laughter, and the occasional glue stick emergency. By this stage of the trip, our students had firmly established themselves as confident and enthusiastic classroom leaders.
Later we travelled to Kotusilo Village, where the group helped distribute hygiene kits and mosquito nets. It was a really meaningful part of the day and a chance for students to see how small acts of kindness and support can make a real difference within a community.
After such a full day, it was clearly time for something equally important: a supermarket stop followed by ice cream. Spirits were high, and the ice cream disappeared at a speed that would impress even the most experienced dessert enthusiast.
Next came some well-earned swimming pool time, where students cooled off, relaxed, and attempted a range of pool jumps that may or may not have been Olympic standard (judges are still reviewing the technique). Special mention to Amelia for her interesting diving technique, and Megan for her patient coaching.
The day finished with our evening meal, where everyone swapped stories from the day, reflected on their favourite moments from the week.
Tomorrow brings a slightly different kind of adventure as we begin our journey back home to the Earls. We’ll be setting off at 2:30pm, which means one final morning in The Gambia before packing bags, saying some fond goodbyes, and starting the trip home. It has been an incredible experience for the students—full of learning, teamwork, and memories that will last a lifetime. We suspect there may be a few very tired travellers on the journey back… although we wouldn’t be surprised if there’s still some lively debate about who truly won sports day.
by Nic Earls | Mar 6, 2026 | Uncategorized
Day 6 in the Gambia started with breakfast where students were fuelled up with enthusiasm, knowing that a very important event lay ahead: Sports Day.
Miss Seleshe got everyone in a team huddle and briefed the Earls students for the chaos to come.
Later that morning we headed to the venue where Omega School faced off against The Spring of Life School. The stage was set for a series of fiercely contested events including classics such as ball over head, bean bag relay, jumping with a ball between legs, 100m sprint, and the ever-chaotic 100m relay.
As with any great sporting spectacle, there were moments of incredible athleticism and a few moments of creative rule interpretation. Let’s just say that at times the rulebook may have been treated more as a suggestion, than a strict guideline. This only added to the excitement and showed just how competitive everyone was feeling.
The Earls students played a brilliant role throughout the morning, helping to organise teams, lead their groups, and even stepping up as event officials. Whistles were blown, decisions were made, and (mostly) respected by the competitors. It was fantastic to see them taking responsibility and helping the day run smoothly.
After all the running, jumping, throwing and enthusiastic debating of rules, the results were finally in. Despite the heroic efforts from everyone involved, Omega School emerged victorious!
Following the morning’s sporting drama, lunch at 12:30pm was very welcome. After refuelling, it was back to work for the final day of painting at Omega’s new School. The Earls team returned to the classrooms they had been transforming throughout the week, putting the finishing touches on the rooms they started earlier in the trip. Brushes were back in hand, sleeves rolled up once more, and the classrooms are now looking brighter, fresher, and ready for learning.
By the evening, the group had certainly earned a well-deserved treat. We headed out for dinner at Luigi’s for what might just be the most universally loved meal on the planet: pizza. After a long day of sports and painting, it disappeared at record speed.
All in all, another brilliant day packed with teamwork, community spirit, a little friendly rivalry… and a lot of pizza.
Team Project Gambia
by Nic Earls | Mar 4, 2026 | Uncategorized
The day began, as all great school-trip days should, with breakfast. There was a steady flow of toast, Nutella, and watermelon. Fuelled and mostly awake, we set off for Spring of Life School.
On arrival, we separated into groups and got stuck straight into classroom activities. There was plenty of focus, lots of enthusiasm and some impressive arts and crafts. After that, it was time for circle games. Imagine a joyful mix of clapping, The Hokey Cokey, and increasingly faster head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
The fun didn’t stop there. The playground became the setting for some very competitive games, including inter-school competitions. However, the real highlight- The teachers’ race. Let’s just say there was determination, questionable running techniques, and a level of competitiveness that surprised absolutely no one. Students were avid supporters of their teachers, and their noise electrified the playground. By 12:45, we aimed to leave – tired but happy, and possibly still discussing the dramatic finish line moment.
In the afternoon, students tried their hand at Batik art. There were moments of intense concentration as wax was carefully applied and designs began to take shape. The creativity on display was fantastic, and there may be some future Batik artists in the group. Watch this space!
After heading back, we swapped paint and playgrounds for sand and sea with a walk along the beach. The breeze, the sound of the waves, and the sunshine provided the perfect way to wind down.
The day finished with a well-earned dinner. Plates were cleared at impressive speed, and the volume level suggested everyone had plenty of stories to share.
After dinner, it was time for the highly anticipated Student Quiz! Teams were formed, team names became increasingly creative (and occasionally questionable), and the competitive spirit returned in full force.
The final scores were close, the celebrations were loud, for Eden, Emily, Viv, Amelia, and Pippa’s team.
Another brilliant day filled with laughter, teamwork, creativity and just the right amount of chaos. Everyone is in great spirits and making memories that we’re sure will last long after the suitcases are unpacked!
by Nic Earls | Mar 3, 2026 | Uncategorized
We are officially on Day 4, and it’s safe to say the students are no longer tourists, they are now fully-fledged classroom leaders (with surprisingly confident “teacher voices”) and part-time decorating professionals!
After breakfast, we split into three groups and headed off to Bright Minds Nursery, Wisdom Nursery and St Peter’s School.
Each group threw themselves into activities with energy and smiles. There was laughter, learning, and the kind of joyful chaos that only happens when creativity meets small children.
Activities included crown making, nail painting, classroom singsong and face painting. The most requested face paints were Ruby’s Lion and Spider-Man.
In the afternoon, it was back to painting at Omega School. Brushes were brandished with all the confidence of seasoned professionals, sleeves were firmly rolled up, and the transformation continued. The white-wash team have been working wonders, the walls are looking brighter than ever, and the freshly painted alphabet is coming along beautifully.
At lunchtime, we made a tactical mission to the supermarket to pick up snacks and refuel. Nothing says a successful day like a determined group debating what are better, Doritos or Pringles?
After dinner, the productivity continued, hygiene kits were carefully packed, and footballs were blown up in preparation for tomorrow’s activities.
Meanwhile, the evenings have featured special guest appearances from geckos in rooms — now fondly referred to as “Gecko Gate.” We’re pleased to report that while they are bold, they are also tiny and largely uninterested in being Eden and Megan’s new household pet. Thank you, Mr Cajigal, for safely removing “Big Yahoo” from room 15A.
And now… the headline act.
During the daytime, we have experienced what can only be described as Monkey Madness. The local monkeys have taken a keen interest in our students, why would they not when they have sampled their biscuit selection.
We’re fairly certain they are camping out on the roof of said students’ room, in anticipation of their next biscuit fix. Biscuit security has since been significantly tightened.
All in all, it’s been a day full of purpose, laughter, paint splatters, wildlife encounters, and snack-based diplomacy. The students are working hard, embracing every moment, and handling the unexpected (furry or otherwise) with brilliant spirit.
Team Project Gambia
by Nic Earls | Mar 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
Another fantastic and very busy day for our students here in The Gambia — full of creativity, teamwork and just a little bit of healthy competition!
The day began at 8:00am with breakfast, where students fuelled up and prepared for the day ahead. Shortly after, they split into two groups — proof that we can, in fact, organise teenagers efficiently before 9:00am!
At 9:00am, both groups set off for their respective schools, ready to lead activities and bring plenty of energy.
Group One: Bright Minds Nursery
One group visited Bright Minds Nursery, where they worked with the children. Our students led a range of activities including:
• Making paper handbags (future fashion designers in the making!)
• Colouring sessions
• Playground games that may have been just as energetic for our students as the children
It was wonderful to see the confidence and leadership skills on display. There were big smiles all round — and that was just from our students!
Group Two: Omega School
Meanwhile, the second group headed to Omega School, where artistic talent was in full flow. Activities included:
• Paper hand art
• Designing and decorating cups
• Face painting (with some very impressive designs!)
The creativity on show was outstanding — and thankfully most of the paint made it onto paper and faces rather than their project Gambia t-shirts.
After a well-earned lunch, everyone regrouped and at 1:30pm headed back to the new build Omega school, which Earls students have contributed towards being built.
The mission: paint classrooms and add the finishing touches to the areas started yesterday.
A special shout-out goes to Eden and Riley, who were crowned champions of the (unofficial but very serious) Decorating Competition, their prize- ice cream!
At 4:00pm, we visited the ice cream parlour. After a day of hard work, it was very well deserved.
By 5:00pm, students enjoyed some free time in the swimming pool.
At 7:00pm, everyone gathered for dinner, sharing stories from the day and comparing creative masterpieces.
We continue to be impressed by how brilliantly our students are throwing themselves into every activity, whether that’s leading a nursery craft session, perfecting their face-painting technique, or treating a wall like it’s the Sistine Chapel. Their energy levels remain mysteriously high, especially when ice cream is involved.
