PROJECT Gambia 2015 is now underway with the first group of Ridgewood High School students and staff boarding the plane for Africa.

Throughout the next 12 days two groups of participants from the Wollaston school will experience life in the West African country as well as work with local schools and communities.

First established in 2007, the aim of Project Gambia was for students, staff and members of the local community to travel to The Gambia for a week each year to experience firsthand what life is like in a developing country.

Now on their 8th trip, this year’s groups will be visiting schools in Kanifing and Half Dye, the rural farming village of Sintet and, for the first time, a clinic in Kotosilo which has been set up to provide free medical care for local children.

The first group will be out in African between Monday March 23 and Monday March 30, with a second group getting their experience between Friday March 27 and Friday April 3.

Each day the groups are out in The Gambia, a student will write their own blog post detailing their own thoughts and experiences.

Blog posts will be available on both the Stourbridge News website and at projectgambia.org.uk.

The Stourbridge News has also joined forces with Project Gambia to help raise money to buy and install a water pump at the farm in Sintet.

Our Well of Life appeal needs to raise £10,000 to fund the pump and irrigation system to serve drought-stricken farming land.

Members of Project Gambia will be visiting Sintet this week where they will see the location of the impending installation of the much needed pump.

To make a donation now visit www.justgiving.com/welloflifeappeal/ or text PROG15 and your amount, either £10, £5, £4, £3, £2, £1, to 70070.

People can also donate cash or cheques in person at the Stourbridge News offices, at St John’s House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Cheques need to be made payable to Project Gambia Trust Ridgewood, and you’ll need to write Well off Life Appeal on the back.

If you are carrying out an event to help raise funds for the Well of Life Appeal please call our reporter Dan Sharp on 01384 358223, or email dan.sharp@stourbridgenews.co.uk with details.