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North Syracuse educators describe visits to The Gambia, donations and plans for virtual exchanges
Summary
Teachers Jackie Heyman and Amy Heisick reported on an educational summit and humanitarian work in The Gambia, including donations of laptops and hygiene products, bicycle gifts, partnership with Starfish International and the NAMI Foundation, and plans for a virtual exchange and a childcare program funded by local and district donors.
Jackie Heyman and Amy Heisick told the Board of Education about attending an educational summit in The Gambia and the humanitarian efforts tied to that visit.
Heyman said the trip was organized through the NAMI Foundation and that the delegation met Gambian education officials, regional teacher‑prize winners and the vice president. She described visiting schools and a teacher college, noting classroom conditions, teacher recruitment challenges and supply shortages.
The presenters described a partnership with Starfish International, an initiative started by Yossin Star, who attended Syracuse University and has ties to Brewerton. Heyman said Starfish runs marketable‑skills programs that aim to keep girls in school and that the program is largely self‑sustaining through a farm and produce sales.
Heyman and Heisick said the district‑affiliated group donated two laptops to Starfish, reusable feminine‑hygiene products to help girls and women remain in school, and that the Human Rights Club and others raised money matched by a staff member and the union to send $800 to a local university in The Gambia to set up a childcare facility for teacher‑education students. Heyman described earlier bicycle donations (five bicycles purchased from local currency converted funds) that enabled students with long walks to remain in school.
Heyman and Heisick also described striking resource constraints in Gambian health care and schools: one CT scanner in the country, delayed or untranslated equipment manuals for donated medical devices, shortages of chalk, and late government payments to schools. They said the trip included participation in an Independence Day celebration and meetings with Department of Education officials.
Heyman said the presenters and their partners hope to develop a virtual exchange and ongoing communication between North Syracuse students and Gambian schools, but noted work remains to ensure student safety and appropriate supervision for virtual interactions. "People are so grateful for everything. It just feels so good," Heyman said.
Board members and the student board member complimented the presenters and noted the trips’ potential to broaden student perspective and support humanitarian needs.
