BY IAN ROSS

CHARITY leader Mae Winterton is appealing for cash help from Congleton people to help realise a dream for African children.

Young children living in a remote village in The Gambia are desperate to learn, but do not have their own school.

Their prayers should soon be answered thanks to the efforts of the Congleton-based charity Schools for Gambia.

The charity has almost finished work on creating a three-classroom school for hundreds of children aged between six and 12.

The school has been built thanks to £8,000 raised by people from the village of Bosley as their Millennium project.

However another £2,200 is needed to complete work on the school roof, and local people and businesses are being asked to help out.

"These children have never been to school, and are absolutely thirsting for knowledge," said Mrs Winterton, from Middle Lane, Congleton.

"Their nearest school is a six-kilometre walk, which is not safe for the children to use because of dangers like hyenas and snakes.

"The children are very excited about the prospect of going to school, and we want to open it by the end of April.

"Everything in The Gambia is printed in English, which the children can learn only by going to school, which is very important to their future."

The project is one of numerous school schemes Mrs Winterton has initiated in The Gambia since a holiday to the West African country in 1990.

The charity is in the process of completing a well in a remote village of 150 people.

The new well is due to replace one containing contaminated water from which numerous people have fallen ill and, in some cases, died.

The water has been contaminated by earth from the sides of the well and dead animals, and villagers face a 16-kilometre round trip on foot to carry water from the next community.

The Medical Research Council approached the Schools for Gambia charity for help after becoming concerned about the rising number of people falling ill from drinking the well water.

The new well is costing £5,500 to create, and the money for the scheme has come from the Wilmslow Wells for Africa charity.

"Many people never leave the village because they have to cross an extremely dangerous bridge," said Carole Downes, who works with Mrs Winterton.

"The new well will make a huge difference, and will also provide water for 21 neighbouring communities," said Carole, from Fords Lane, Mow Cop.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can ring 272361.