Children from Clough Hall Technology School in Kidsgrove are in Gambia at the Bijilo Lower Basic School to see the school they have linked with. Pupils will see the new school roof, paid for with money Clough Hall pupils have raised through various fund-raising activities

Day 2

Kieran Cressy, aged 15, writes: As we drove to the school, we could see red dirt on one side of the road, lined by lampposts and coarse rough grass, and on the other, construction work being carried out by hand.

We go to the school in a whirl of sand and dust.

A school block needed a coat of cream paint on the walls, and green on the windows and doors. It was a big job and seemed daunting, but as well as the 12 of us, 12 students were on hand. What should have taken six hours to complete took about half that. Not only did we finish early, but Mohammed, Ibby, Abrahim, Tyler and myself started work on a smaller block and finished that too.

Holly Turnock, aged 13, writes: We were up and dressed by 7.30am ready for our yummy Gambian breakfast. Then a taxi took us to Bijilo School. We started work at 9am with the 12 students from the school, who are really helpful and have made our job easier.

I have made a friend named Haddy who speaks good English and is an amazing artist. I hope we can still be friends when I get back home.

At noon we had reached our painting target and watched the football match Bijilo vs London College who also sponsor Bijilo but their mission is to help with the school garden which supplements the school meals. Bijilo won the match. Whoo!