As we were working on building the school a young boy about 5 years old was brought to us, he had fallen in a fire and one of his legs was burned so much that it was difficult to separate the charcoal from the fire from the remains of his leg. I spent a couple of hours with Charlotte, a nurse and trustee of BACE, cleaning his foot and leg and treating the absolutely horrendous burns - despite the pain he never once cried - apparently there was no hospital or doctor within miles, and even for such serious injuries there is only limited transportation.

BACE has built a really strong relationship with the local community and elders of the area. Over the last year the trustees decided that their next project is to build and staff a medical centre. It will cater mostly for first aid and malaria treatment but will also provide a clean safe environment for women to give birth which they are currently severely lacking - the infant mortality rate in Gambia is currently high at 75/1000 babies born.

Having seen the situation at close hand I am convinced that this will save lives. I am excited about going back to Bonsa with BACE to assist with the building of the clinic, for what will no doubt be another challenging but extremely rewarding week.

Richard Collier-Keywood