Former Cathkin High pupil helps schools in Gambia

Jul 21 2010 by Jonathan Geddes, Rutherglen Reformer

WHEN it comes to summer holiday destinations, Andrew McNair’s was slightly different than most students.

Instead of partying in Ibiza, or soaking up some Spanish sun, Andrew was spending a week in the Gambia, helping provide solar electricity to local schools.

The former Cathkin High pupil, was in the poverty-stricken African country as part of a Strathclyde University project, which sees undergraduates from the department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering travel out to try to make a difference in a country where the electrical network is estimated to serve just two per cent of the population.

Andrew, who graduated from Strathclyde last week, admitted the trip itself was something he’ll never forget.

He said: “It was just an unbelievable experience.

“It was a real eye-opener, just to see what the conditions were like and how people were living.

“Just seeing the small children out there, already having to work and to farm, or carry water, was something that was quite a shock.”

While out there, Andrew was able to apply the lectures and lessons he’d learned at uni, focusing on sustainable renewable energy.

But the work, which saw sustainable solar power provided to the villages of Njie Kunda and Sotokoi, was also gruelling.

“The heat was intense at times and we were working from seven in the morning until about nine at night on the project.

“So just working in that heat could be really draining.

“But the actual project, and actual work, all went very smoothly.”

And the fact that Andrew could clearly see the difference the work was making, was inspiring.

“The gratitude that we got from the locals was amazing.

“They were so friendly and welcoming, it was a real highlight of the trip.”

To fund the trip, Andrew and the other students had to raise cash to help with funding. And they achieved that in a truly mountainous manner.

“We all had to raise £200 each, which was to cover various expenses and funding for the trip.

“So we decided that we’d all climb Ben Nevis to raise the money, and be sponsored by as many as friends and family as possible.

“It was good fun and as some of the group didn’t know the others it was a good team-building experience.

“It meant that when we were out there we all knew each other and got along really well.

The project was started in 2006 after the university was approached by Fintry Primary School.

They were looking for help installing solar power at their twin school in Sambel Kunda in rural Gambia.

A team from Strathclyde then made two trips to the west African country, in September 2006 and March 2007, installing power in both the school and the local health clinic.

Neighbouring communities then asked for help as well, leading to a further round of fundraising.

And from that start, the work has grown and grown, with trips being organised every year.

For Dr Scott Strachan, a Research Fellow at Strathclyde, the project offers the chance to make a difference to local life in the Gambia, as well as changing how students themselves approach life.

He said: “Witnessing young, aspiring engineers become actively involved in all aspects of the project, grow in confidence and build friendships with the people of the local communities, underlines the benefits to our own students as well as to the people of the Gambia.

“This unique experience enhances the development of our students, both as individuals and engineers, while making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of others.”

The Gambia is Africa’s smallest nation, with 60% of rural Gambians living below the poverty line.

The average income in the country is just a dollar a day, while there are only 11 doctors for every 100,000 people in the country.

And it’s obvious that the trip had a huge impact on Andrew, who has already secured a job in London, which he will start later this year.

“It was just such an amazing experience to be part of.

“As I was finishing uni this summer, I wanted to use my experience in a positive way, and was just glad to do something like this project.”

To donate to the project, visit www.strath.a.uk/give2gambia