Dear Supporter ,

We hope you’re enjoying the cosy days of autumn and looking forward to the festive season ahead.

First and foremost, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated to The Oasis Project The Gambia following our last urgent appeal email in September. We can’t say thank you enough!

In this edition, we’re excited to share our new video showcasing the incredible impact of our work in Bakau. We also celebrated a fundraising collaboration with Oxford Brookes University, took part in the two day Black History Month Exhibition in Milton Keynes, and proudly represented The Oasis Project at the Northamptonshire Business Exhibition.

One of our proudest achievements this quarter was the successful completion and opening of the Starlight Community School Library, a beautiful new space that will inspire learning, creativity, and opportunity for generations to come.

Chris Hayter

We’re also thrilled to share that our founder and leader, Chris Hayter, has been nominated for an award recognising her as a leader of an organisation that truly makes a difference, and our Chairperson, Adrian Francis, has been nominated for a Community Champion Award.

Thank you for being with us on this journey, your support continues to bring hope and opportunity to children and communities in The Gambia.

Warm regards,
The Oasis Project Team

Support Starlight Community School’s New Chapter

In our September newsletter, we shared that we are at a crucial moment in funding the balance of  Starlight Community School’s land. The goal was £65k, but since the last newsletter, thanks to favourable exchange rates and supporters who have generously pledged a substantial amount, the immediate risk that the school faced has been removed. We are deeply grateful for this support, but we still need a balance of £28k to complete the land purchase that will secure a permanent home for Starlight Community School.

Can you introduce or connect us with:

• Businesses, trusts, and funding bodies who may be able to partner with us;

• Friends, family membesr, or colleagues;

• Inspire someone to organise a fundraising activity;

• Choosing The Oasis Project as your charity for Facebook birthday donations, which can raise meaningful funds at no cost to you.

Starlight Community School is unique in the community and plays a vital role in helping to break the cycle of poverty. Thank you for being part of this mission.

Showcasing Impact: Education and Empowerment in The Gambia

One of our biggest achievements this quarter is the release of a new video, a true labour of love that took hard work, dedication, and creativity to bring to life.

We’d love for you to watch it in full! It offers a heartfelt glimpse into the Oasis Project’s work in the community and life at Starlight Community School, showcasing the impact of our projects and the hope for the future with your support. Together, we’re helping children and the wider community of Bakau thrive.

Turning Dreams into Reality: Our New Library Opens!

We’re thrilled to share that our library project has been successfully completed and officially opened! What was once a small 3x2m storeroom has been transformed into a vibrant, welcoming library, a space filled with colour, imagination, and opportunity.

This achievement was made possible by a generous grant.This new library offers a safe place to learn, explore, and dream, for the children of Starlight Community School, many of whom face daily challenges such as food insecurity. It’s a powerful reminder that knowledge truly changes lives, opening doors to possibility and helping every child believe in their own potential.

Watch the short video below to see the smiles and the joy of reading come to life inside the new library!

Building Bridges: Our Collaboration with Oxford Brookes University

This November, we were honoured to continue our growing partnership with Oxford Brookes University.

The two day project brought together Elizabeth Skills on Wheels in Nigeria with students from UK and Gambia.

The collaboration was part of the university’s programme designed to connect students with real world causes that make a difference. Over two inspiring days, participants explored themes of education, sustainability, and cultural exchange, showing how small actions can lead to a lasting impact.

A highlight of the event was a live Zoom activity between Oxford Brookes students and pupils from Starlight Community School, where both groups joined together in creativity and shared purpose. They made handcrafted bracelets which will be sold by Oxford Brookes University and Starlight Community School students to raise £1,000 over the Christmas season in support of Starlight Community School.

Partnerships like this remind us that meaningful change happens when people come together with open hearts and a shared vision. We are very grateful to the Oxford Brookes team for their ongoing support and to everyone who helped make this collaboration such a success.

Connecting Communities: Two Successful Autumn Exhibitions

In addition to all the exciting projects happening in The Gambia, we’ve been busy here in the UK too, sharing our mission, building connections, and growing our network of supporters. This autumn, The Oasis Project proudly took part in two major exhibitions: the Black History Month Exhibition in Milton Keynes and the Northamptonshire Business Exhibition.

Both events were a success! We met so many inspiring people, formed new partnerships, and had the chance to share the story and impact with wider audiences. We’re so grateful to everyone who stopped by our stand, asked questions, and showed interest in our work. Your encouragement fuels our passion and helps us continue creating opportunities for children and families in Bakau, The Gambia.

How can you help?

We’d love you to stay connected with us and continue supporting the difference we are making. Here’s how you can help:

Volunteer: Whether it’s a few hours or a few days, your time can create lasting change.  Please contact us at info@theoasisproject.org.

• Host an Event: Consider hosting a fundraiser on our behalf or introducing us to your organisation or network.
• Donate: A one-off or monthly donation helps us grow and reach more people. You can donate at  https://www.theoasisproject.org/donate/