Kafuta Lower Basic School

Kafuta: A School That's Growing, But Still Needs Us

After visiting Sukuta, I didn't know what to expect next. So when I arrived at Kafuta Lower Basic School, I was honestly relieved because for the first time, I saw structure. I saw classrooms. I saw real learning happening.

Kafuta is home to over a thousand students, spread out in shifts, morning and afternoon, to make space for everyone. The children are divided by actual grade levels, and you could feel the rhythm of a functioning school. Classrooms were filled with chatter, laughter, and lessons that matched the age and stage of the students inside them.

I saw little girls in uniforms helping each other tie their hair. Boys practicing English out loud to make each other laugh. Friends teasing, teachers guiding. It felt like a real school, one that's holding itself up even when the world around it offers so little support.

And that matters. Because this is what possibility looks like.

But let me be clear: even here, things are still far from perfect.

Sanitation remains a serious issue. The school has no proper toilets, something that becomes especially dangerous when you're managing this many children in a tight space. The kitchen, where lunch is prepared, could benefit from a full renovation. And the infrastructure, while standing, still needs reinforcement to handle its growing student population.

Kafuta has potential, and most importantly, it has momentum. Development is already underway, thanks to generous donors and community support, including a women's club that recently sponsored a group of young girls to ensure they stay in school. That kind of action changes everything.

But what Kafuta reminds us is this:
Progress should not make us comfortable. It should make us committed.

This school is a shining example of what's possible when people care. And with just a little more support, it could become a model, not just for Gambia, but for every community fighting for a better future for its children.