The village of Kubuneh is located in the western part of The Gambia, southeast of the airport. The village consists of about 1200 inhabitants who are mainly dependent on agriculture. There are about 1.5 km to the river (a tributary to the Gambia River)
In 2007, retired schoolteacher Per Mathiesen, during a holiday trip in Gambia, passed a school building in Kubuneh. He learned that the village had begun the construction of a 4-class nursery school, but the money had not reached more than a foundation wall at a height of 2 meters.
The following year Per Mathiesen went back to the village with Mason Peter Atke, Odense, to assess if further work could be built on the work started.
As this proved to be the case, it managed to raise funds from foundations and individuals to complete the construction.
Local anchorage was secured through meetings with the alkalo (chief), the VDC (Village Devellopment Commite) and the school principal.
In 2009, work could begin, and in November Per Mathiesen took a group of sponsors on a visit. These individuals, in collaboration with Per Mathiesen, formed a steering committee to work on the continued development of the village.
Used school supplies were collected and sent there in container.
November 2010, the school was inaugurated during major festivitas.
On repeated visits to Kubuneh, there have been conversations with various people in the village, including several with the women. There has been a focus on wants and needs and on the opportunities for earnings to the village. From these conversations several projects have been prepared.
A water tank has now been provided for the children to have clean drinking water.
The school has been provided with toilets.
There are solar cells set up so there is school light and electricity for charging mobile phones and the computers and lap-tops sent down there. There is also a network café.
Teaching materials are provided and through the use of Danish teachers and trainees. In addition, training and continuing education of teachers is provided.
The children are now guaranteed a meal a day by means of food arrangements.
A commenced market construction has been completed.
A sewing room is established and a tailor is trained.
2 women are trained in soap production.
There are 4 boats purchased for the women who collect oysters.
Collected used bikes are refurbished and sent there.
A hairdresser is trained and has opened a hairdressing salon.
An important initiative, to provide the village with revenue, has been the establishment of a fenced area for growing finer vegetables for the tourist hotels. 6 women and 2 men have been trained in this.
Another garden has arrived, and we are working to improve the irrigation situation by establishing solar cells. With power from these, water can be pumped up into basins, where women can then collect water in buckets.
We will also do drip irrigation experiments.
In 2016 -17 we got a building for 5 classes (2nd-6th grade) and it is agreed that the state pays the expenses for teacher salaries and books.
Nurseyschool and Lower Basic School now have over 600 pupils.
Next to the internet café we have established a computer teaching room.
Another building with 3 classes for the Upper Basic School (7th - 9th grade)
Has been finished in oktober 2020.
The school is now named " Kubuneh Basic Cycle School" (800 pupils / 41 teachers)