Mariamakunda Development Project

Mariamakunda is a village in the Western Division of The Gambia. The village is an stations of the parish of St Francis, Kunkujang Mariama.

In 2005 a request was made by the people of the village for catechism and Sunday Mass. St. Kizito's responded by agreeing to help the parish priest. When we visited the village we found a small church in an open compound. Funding was organised to complete the church, build a perimeter fence around the compound.

In 2006 a group from the church community of Kiltealy, Co. Wexford, Ireland, visited the village. They met with the village community and listened to their needs. The group immediately committed to building a three class roomed nursery school. The building includes a office, toilets and shower facilities. A kitchen was later added and teachers quarters were constructed in the church compound.

The 'Kiltealy Nursery School' opened its doors to pupils in January 2007 with the intake of thirty seven nursery one students. In September of the same year a second a new group of students occupied the nursery one classroom.

A borehole was drilled in February 2007. it is hoped that the new source of water will help in the development of a school garden.

The Future

Plans are being currently drawn up to build a primary school in the village. Children from the village and surrounding villages have to trek four kilometers to primary school. It is envisaged that the project will begin in late 2008 and be completed in fifteen months.