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Band Aid – family groups together to support UEL student’s Gambia trip

Friday 18 January 2008

A University of East London (UEL) student has raised £700 to support school-children in West Africa after enlisting her husband and son to provide the entertainment for a benefit gig held at Barking’s Curzon Social Club on Saturday January 12.

Elaine Holt (46), of Chadwell Heath, is one of ten students from UEL’s School of Education who departed today – Friday January 18 – for a two-week field trip to The Gambia. The students are visiting a wide range of educational establishments to develop their understanding of African teaching and learning.

Elaine, a second-year student on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Special Educational Needs, organised the charity gig with fellow student Heather Cornwell (44), of Seven Kings, to raise valuable funds for Gambian schools and nurseries.

Elaine said: “I’ve got a very musical family, so putting on a gig was the obvious plan. My husband Terry is in a band called ‘Monkey See’ and my son Joe has just started his own group – in fact, they’re so new that they’ve called themselves ‘The Curzons’ after the place where they had their first gig!

“The event was really successful, and it’s wonderful that we’ve been able to raise so much money. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who came along to support our cause.”

Heather added: “We’re both really excited about going to The Gambia – neither of us has ever been to Africa before, and we probably would never have done if it wasn't for studying at UEL.

“It should be an amazing and eye-opening trip, and I'm sure we'll learn a lot about how teaching varies in different countries and how the two cultures can learn from each other.”

UEL’s School of Education has run the popular Gambia trip since 1999. Carolyn Silberfeld, Programme Leader for UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Early Childhood Studies, is leading the trip for the second year running.

Carolyn said: “This trip is a fantastic opportunity for our students to share their ideas and get a great insight into life and education in West Africa. Over the last decade, we’ve built excellent links with a variety of educational establishments in The Gambia, including primary schools, nurseries, a female vocational centre and the University of The Gambia.

"This year, for the first time, we’re visiting a school for children who are deaf or have hearing difficulties, which should be particularly interesting for Heather and Elaine, who are both studying Special Educational Needs.”

UEL’s School of Education is one of UK's fastest growing teacher education centres, and internationally renowned for teaching and research in Early Childhood Development. The School offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including Education and Community Development, English Language Teaching, and Youth and Community Work.

For further details, visit www.uel.ac.uk/education or contact the School of Education helpdesk on 020 8223 6374.

Ends/.

For details and pictures contact Daniel Cherry: 020 8223 2194

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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