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Twenty-one students in the African republic of Gambia are attending classes thanks to the efforts of children at St. Mary/St. Alphonsus School in Glens Falls.
The children raised enough money to pay for half of the Gambian students' tuition for the school year. 

"I am not surprised by the generosity of the students [at St. Mary/St. Alphonsus], said second-grade teacher Mary Gregorio, who conceived the project.

"I've been teaching here for 17 years and the kids in our school love to do these kinds of projects. The children live the Gospel message daily, and find great joy in doing so."

Mrs. Gregorio first learned about the need of the students in Gambia during the summer. She explained that each summer Rev. Joseph Gough, CSSP, of the Holy Ghost Congregation, assists at St. Mary's Church. This year, she decided to invite the priest over for dinner. Over dinner, she learned of his work in Gambia.

The Gambia, as it is known there, is the smallest country in Africa. Located in West Africa, it is a geographic enclave of Senegal, which surrounds it on three sides. The main industry is agriculture, and a high percentage of the people live in poverty.

Father Gough, a native of Ireland, began ministering in Gambia in 1972. He helped open the first seminary in Gambia and assisted in the establishment of many Catholic schools and served as principal of one. 

Father Gough has served at St. Mary's most summers since he was ordained in 1971. "The gifts the people give me and the money I earn go towards the education of young Gambian seminarians," Father Gough wrote in an email exchange. "Each year after my summer in Glens Falls, I give the Bishop of Gambia a cheque for $5,000 towards the education of Gambian aspirants to the priesthood. I also help fund other needy projects there." 

For his efforts, he was named an honorary citizen and Ambassador at Large for the Gambia. The rest of the time he teaches at Blackrock College in Dublin, Ireland.

Small price 
When Mrs. Gregorio learned that tuition and fees per student were $50 a year, she thought that the St. Mary/St. Alphonsus community could assist. 

"I presented the idea to the teachers," she said. "Each class did their own fundraising."

Some of the students earned money at home by doing extra chores, Mrs. Gregorio said. Some classes had popcorn sales and special appeals. 

In the end, each class adopted one student, with the sixth grade raising enough money to adopt three students and the eighth grade raising enough money to pay four students' tuition.

Mrs. Gregorio noted that tuition and fees at the Gambian school doubled between the time they started raising funds and when it was sent over. While they had hoped to pay the complete expenses per student, they were able to help with half of the expenses.

Swapping lessons 
In addition to raising funds, the students from St. Mary/St. Alphonsus are learning about life in Gambia. Mrs. Gregorio said that one of the students noticed that the pictures that were sent to them by their Gambian friends at Christmas time had beautiful flowers blooming in the background. Her class decided to write back and send a picture of them in the snow. The students explained all of the different names for the winter outerwear to their new friends half a world away.

The most recent letters sent by the local students described the local customs for Lent and Mardi Gras. She said her students are looking forward to hearing how their Gambian peers observe Lent and Easter.

Father Joseph Gough can be contacted at jagough@blackrockcollege. com. For more information on St. Mary/St. Alphonsus, visit the school
website at www.smsaschool.org. [[In-content Ad]]

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