Freundeskreis
Sukuta -
Moormerland e.V
Our projects
More than 30 years have passed since the FSM e. V. was founded in 1986. During this long period of time we have been able to collect more than 120.000€ of donations, which have been invested in the following projects:
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Construction of classrooms
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Construction of the Assembly Hall (Aula)
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Enclosure of the complete school property with a wall of approx. 1 km length
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Creation of a school garden
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Construction of an administration building
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Establishment of a library and library equipment which reflect the life of young Africans*ì in a special way, as well as textbooks for each student of the Upper Basic School in the subjects English, Mathematics, Agriculture and Science
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Since 2019, the school library has been housed in the new school building, because after the school was extended to the university level, the previous rooms were needed for the construction of new classrooms and therefore the library had to be provisionally accommodated in the Assembly Hall. We expect the new building to be completed in spring 2021.
Current projects
Expansion of the Assembly Hall
Anschaffung von Schulinventar
Acquisition of school inventory
New construction of the school library
New inventory for the library
Construction of a photovoltaic system for the library
The
Solar Project 2
Expansion of the Assembly Hall
In the meantime, sufficient numbers of lighting fixtures and fans have been installed on the ceiling of the Assembly Hall. The Assembly Hall can now also be used for events in the dark and at higher temperatures.
The complete expansion (sanitary facilities, changing room) was postponed for financial reasons in favor of other urgent measures.
Acquisition of school inventory
In the past, we have
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the school was equipped with a Covid19 hygiene kit consisting of 2400 mouth-nose masks, sufficient soap and disinfectants.
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the school library is equipped with other books and textbooks
countries from the immediate living environment of the students, literary works and further literature for various subjects and reference works .
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Among other things, photocopiers, school consumables and cupboards for the school's administration were handed over.
In 2022 we have
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In the spring, together with the IGS Moormerland, 247 well-preserved, used desks and 221 chairs and other school furniture were transported to Sukuta in a container,
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three computer desks made for use in the school library.
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have bought four laptops and four pc’s each for use in the school library.
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the school library equipped with more books from Gambia or other African countries from the immediate environment of the students, literary works and further literature for various subjects and reference books.
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purchased in order to fight a possible fire in the school library (as happened in 2007), six fire extinguishers for fire protection.
In 2023 we have
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for the teachers' room, which was renovated in February, seats for 50 teachers and tables were made.
2019 a copy machine was provided
Laptops, PCs, fire extinguisher, mini video projector, screen, laser printer, books, school consumables are handed over.
Three computer desks are purchased for use in the library.
2019 a copy machine was provided
Construction of the school library is finished
At the end of October 2021, the time has finally come: The new construction of the school library has been completed and fully financed, the 2019 offer of GD 3,174,312.00 was not exceeded despite the long construction period.
With the help of numerous sponsors and financial participation in the construction costs by the Gambian Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, the Circle of Friends was able to provide the equivalent of 55,575.00 € for this project. The Circle of Friends would like to thank all those in Germany and The Gambia who have contributed to the realisation of this project.
Even though the Corona pandemic is currently preventing a ceremonial handover of the library to our partner school, there is great joy in November/December 2021 that the more than two-year provisional arrangement in Assembky Hall will now be over with the complete transfer of the library to the new building and that the new library can finally be used.
The school library gives all children - regardless of their parents' purse - access to reading and teaching materials. This is because books are not as easily accessible in The Gambia as they are in Germany. There are only a few libraries or bookshops and books are so expensive that most pupils cannot afford them.
Since 2001 FSMeV has been supporting the school library by purchasing books, shelves, tables and benches. It also pays part of the salaries of the employees.
When the library burned down in 2007, a new building was not possible for financial reasons. Therefore the books were provisionally housed in a classroom. FSMeV financed a new roof for it, prepared the room and - and above all - bought new books.
In 2015 the planning of a new library building could be started. The School Management Committee, the school management, the Gambian Ministry of Education and committed members of the association took part in the project. When the financing by the Gambian state and the FSMeV was clarified, the new building was started in 2019.
Students like to use the library.
In January 2007 the library was destroyed by a fire.
The library gets a roof.
Students like to use the library.
New inventory for the library
The library focuses on books from Gambia or other African countries with stories that relate to the children's lives. Books for the teaching of English, mathematics, agriculture or science are purchased in such numbers that each child has a copy available. In addition, literary works, further literature for various subjects and reference works can be found on the shelves.
The books are in English because all subjects - reading and writing or mathematics and chemistry - are taught in English and not in the mother tongue of the pupils* (e.g. Mandinka, Wolof). This makes learning immensely difficult, which is why children in The Gambia have to work especially hard to be good at school.
The workstations in the library are also used for doing homework. At home there is often no place to study in peace. As the pupils* are taught in two shifts in the morning and afternoon, the library is open all day. This is possible because FSMeV finances a part of the salaries for the two employees.
Because former pupils* or children from other schools in the area also use the library, it has developed into a small learning centre. And this development will be reinforced by the new fit out.
There are many books within the book shelves.
Many books are up to date.
There are many books within the book shelves.
Construction of a photovoltaic system for the library
The library will be equipped with internet and computers. Teachers and students can also access the Internet with their own mobile devices via WLAN. This gives access to up-to-date information. This means great progress for teachers and students alike. A stable power supply is a prerequisite for the reliable operation of the computer. A photovoltaic system is therefore to be installed next to the new library.
Not only the computers, but also the lighting and the fans for the fresh air supply are operated with the solar power without burdening the tight school budget.
The School Management Committee, the school administration and the FSM eV cooperate in the planning and realization of the project with the Hochschule Emden-Leer and the associationSustainable development in East Friesland and the world(NOEW). Students at the Emden-Leer University of Applied Sciences have laid the foundation for fundraising in the last two semesters, despite the restrictions imposed by Corona.The project was led by Professor Dr. Michael Schlak and Dr. Manfred Hoogestraat and participation of the FSM advanced via video conference. School representatives Haddy Sosseh and Saikou Fatty were involved via two video conferences.
In the meantime, the project has been completed and now supplies the library and the office of the school administration with solar power.
We wholeheartedly thank all donors who have contributed to the success of this important project, especially the VRD Foundation for Renewable Energy (Heidelberg) and Mr. Dieter Baumann, Moormerland, long-standing sponsor of our projects in Sukuta.
Construction of a photovoltaic system for the library
During the farewell ceremony of our travel group on 08.12.2022 in the Assembly Hall, the fans suddenly stopped working for several minutes due to a power blackout. Within a very short time, the indoor temperatures in the Assembly Hall rose so much that all participants fled the hall and sought the shade of the trees outside.
This experience was the trigger for the solar project 2, which is to reliably supply the Assembly Hall with solar power in the future, independent of the public power grid.