Through a long-established client base across the African continent, Gambia has become familiar territory for laboratory autoclave manufacturer Priorclave.
In December 2006, Priorclave product manager Lee Oakley was able to revisit a personal project begun in the summer of 2006 that has affected the lives of many children at the nearby Old Yundum Upper Basic School in the village of Brikama.
After Oakley's holiday to the region with his wife Justine, a teacher, where they were shocked by conditions at the school, various fund raising activities were undertaken and together with donations from friends, Chalvedon School in Essex and Priorclave, enough money was raised for a well to be built in the school grounds.
The school is only 4 years old and on Lee's return visit he finally saw what the generosity of Priorclave and the other donors has given to this school. The headmaster of Old Yundum has informed Lee that the water is used not only by the school itself but also by the surrounding community.
The students now have a vegetable garden, which they can use to grow food to take home to their families, and also to sell in the local market to raise money for the school.
The next project is to install pipe-work and a pump so the water can be pumped directly to the toilets and kitchen as well as to the vegetable garden.