United Siyafunda is dedicated to supporting the transformation of The Gambia’s education system through the introduction of computer-based learning for school children and adults in the local community.

United Siyafunda, together with Mr. Alpha Bah from The Gambian Ministry of Education (who also works with UNESCO) are setting up an action research project in a typical government school in a rural district. The aim of this project is to develop a proof of concept demonstrating how computer-based learning can serve as a leapfrog technology in education. We hope to show how the quality of learning in Gambian schools can be significantly improved by connecting them to the wealth of outstanding educational resources available on the internet as well as to generative AI. If the intervention proves successful, the school will serve as a national model to inform the Ministry of Education’s future strategic planning.

The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although access to schooling is gradually improving, the quality of learning is declining and the country is facing a learning crisis. The Ministry of Education does not have the funds to finance this important research. In fact, Mr. Bah values the project so highly that he has personally provided the start-up funding to pay for the school’s internet connection via Starlink, a large smart TV screen, and four Chromebooks to be used for teacher training during the first phase of the project. Currently, the teachers at the school do not have access to computers and, like the pupils and most adults in the local community, do not possess basic computer literacy skills.

Unfortunately, Mr. Bah cannot afford to finance the next phase of the project, which is why we are hoping that employees at Arm in Cambridge might be able to support us.

For the next phase, we are seeking funding for some or all of the following items (we are very agreeable to partial funding):

Approximate exchange rate: £1 = 100 GMD

20 additional Chromebooks — GMD 17,000 each

Uninterrupted power supply — GMD 19,000

Secure steel lockable cupboard for storage and charging of Chromebooks (to be made locally) — GMD 13,000

15 additional double sockets and wiring in one classroom to power the Chromebooks — GMD 9,850

United Siyafunda is managing the project and is providing teacher training and consultancy free of charge.

I would be delighted to visit Arm to give a presentation on the project to your employees.

Yours hopefully,

Graham Hastings

United Siyafunda Computing Curriculum Consultant