Pearce sponsors student project in the Gambia

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Feb 24, 2006

Ten construction students from Swindon College have just spent a week working with local craftsmen in The Gambia, thanks in part to a donation made by Pearce Group.

Ten construction students from Swindon College have just spent a week working with local craftsmen in The Gambia, thanks in part to a £5,000 donation made by Pearce Group.

The Bristol-based contractor is currently working on a £12.5 million extension for North Star College in Swindon; a scheme which will deliver a new teaching block, including two new workshops, car parking and office accommodation in time for the next college intake in autumn 2006.

When the company learned that students from the college were to undertake a work experience trip to Africa, it was keen to provide support.

The trip saw students working on two infrastructure projects.

The first, in the town of Gunjur, involved the repair and refurbishment of the pre-school community building where they helped build new toilet facilities and equipped the main room for use as a classroom.

The second project, gave the students the opportunity to work with local builders in the construction of new rooms and the installation of basic plumbing at the Woulaba Garden lodge, a local tourist destination.

Pearce Group's project manager, John Boughton, worked closely with the college to provide much needed support for the trip.

"This is such a worthwhile project that we were very keen to get involved", said John.

"The students did a tremendous job in raising funds to cover the trip and we were delighted to be able to support them".

"As well as making a financial donation, we also provided personal protective equipment - hard hats, hi-vis vests and steel toe-capped boots - for the students and Gambian workers; obviously the site conditions and safety regulations that they encountered were very different to those that we would be used to".

The students were based near the town of Gunjur (twinned with Marlborough) in the coastal village of Medina Salam.