Shine Africa, a UK registered charity that has been helping to support nursery education, with a mission to share knowledge skills and resources to benefit the children of the Gambia, are back having geared up for more charity works and activities this year.

Speaking to the Daily Observer in an exclusive interview, Ian and Slynn Jones declared the year 2007 a success in charity works and announced that they are ready and poised for more this year.

The couple said that with the efforts of Shine Africa, they have been able to build and fully maintain three nursery schools located in Saaba, Serekunda and Mandinari Village with each child attending these schools given a Mosquito net, a personal black board, and books. Shine Africa has also provided pupils with other school equipment. They have also helped to up-grade two other nursery schools in the Gambia.

The start of 2007 saw the nursery children (ages 3-7) at Saaba Village starting their new school and this was greeted with much excitement and enthusiasm, said Mrs Jones.

She added that in Mandinari Village they have built a nursery school which now has a small banana garden at the back of the school, and hopefully by next year the children will be able to benefit from this at snack time.

She further added that currently Shine Africa have sponsored four teachers from their schools to attend Brikama College for more professional training, because in the past nursery school teachers were not generally qualified.

She expressed optimism that they will be able to send more teachers this year.

"We work closely with the Gambia education department and help with teacher training course besides sponsoring the professional training of teachers" she said.

This year's charity programs began in the form of a Kora Show with the famous Jaliba Kuyateh and the Kumareh Band, at Teranga Beach Club. The proceeds from this dance show will be used in the building and up-grading of more nursery schools in the Gambia.