Local charity needs help toship vital aid to Gambia

The container, measuring 20ft by 20ft, is packed with equipment for a medical centre, which a team of volunteers from the UK are to build in the village of Bonsa, in South West Gambia in November.

Inside the container are 150 waiting area chairs, eight patient chairs, two medical couches, a commode, a wheelchair, filing cabinets, blood pressure monitors, bandages, rubber gloves and other equipment which is needed to get the new clinic up and running.

The charity needing to ship the container is called BACE, which stands for Building and Assisting Communities with Education.

BACE was set up by the Barnett family, who are from Northiam. It was officially launched in February 2011.

For the past 7 years Tracy, Paul, and their children Charlotte and Matthew have been travelling out to West Africa with friends working with a number of charities on various projects, and personally sponsoring young adults to develop an education, skill or start a business.

BACE works in the poorest parts of The Gambia supporting and establishing educational provision for nursery and primary aged children.

In 2011 the charity set up the Favour Preparatory Nursery School, in the village of Bonsa, which currently teaches 100 two to seven year olds, who would otherwise not receive an education.

BACE chair Tracy Barnett said: “Over the next two years BACE has ambitious plans to further improve the life chances of the children of Bonsa and to do this the cost of our upcoming projects will be £30,000, so any help an individuals or companies can give us really helps.

“If we could find a company to help us deliver the container to The Gambia we would be very, very grateful.”

Anyone who is able to help is asked to contact BACE on 07880 681376 or 01797 253869, or email [email protected].

To find out more about the charity visit www.bace-home.org or search B.A.C.E on Facebook.