ALL of this year’s Project Gambia members now safely together in Africa after the second group landed yesterday.

However, after a trip that has so far gone without a hick-up, it was technology that was the first to waver with the group experiencing an internet outage at their hotel.

But luckily the issues have been fixed in time for our daily updates from the Gambia, with today’s blog post coming from Ryan Owen, a year 13 ex-student volunteer.

“Today we started off our day by going to Kanifing School to do some creative activities with the children in grade 1 and began to start to stencil one of the other classrooms with designs for the students.

“The activities included creating and decoration bunting and face painting. Everybody worked really hard in the heat and we managed to finish off the mural in a simmering 38 degrees as well as leaving the school with several laptops kindly donated by The Ridge Primary school.

“After a quick lunch the group shot off to go and finish our painting work and with the children of Kanifing gone home we painted the rest of the Manor classroom with varying pictures of shapes, flags and other displays.

“Finally we visited the ice cream parlour. Miss Broadhead got the last chocolate ice cream and finished with a visit to the supermarket to top up for our groups visit to Sintet tomorrow.

“On our return to the hotel we arrived at the same time as the bus carrying group 2. We were reunited with our fellow classmates, teachers and volunteers and are now a group of 69.

“We’ve had a few more power cuts this evening but we’re OK and ready for a good night sleep for an early start tomorrow.”

Looking ahead to today’s activities and group two will visit Half Dye School this morning, then go on a tour around Kutosilo village.

This afternoon they will go to Kanifing School and get to experience what group one did earlier this week.

As Ryan said group one, who will be heading home from the Gambia on Monday, will visit Sintet where they will see the local village, school and farm.

The farm in Sintet is getting a helping hand this year as the Stourbridge News has joined forces with Project Gambia to help raise money to buy and install a water pump for the villagers.

Our Well of Life appeal needs to raise £10,000 to fund the pump and irrigation system to serve drought-stricken farming land.

Members of both groups will see the location of the impending installation of the much needed pump when they visit the village this week and get a firsthand glance of how much the villagers need our support.

To make a donation now visit www.justgiving.com/welloflifeappeal/ or text PROG15 and your amount, either £10, £5, £4, £3, £2, £1, to 70070.

People can also donate cash or cheques in person at the Stourbridge News offices, at St John’s House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Cheques need to be made payable to Project Gambia Trust Ridgewood, and you’ll need to write Well off Life Appeal on the back.

If you are carrying out an event to help raise funds for the Well of Life Appeal please call our reporter Dan Sharp on 01384 358223, or email dan.sharp@stourbridgenews.co.uk with details.

Each day the project is out in the Gambia, a member of Project Gambia will write their own blog post detailing their own thoughts and experiences.

Blog posts and daily information on the trip will be available on both the Stourbridge News website and at projectgambia.org.uk.