A PLYMOUTH teacher who now lives in Africa has returned to her home city to raise money and forge links to help the people in her adopted country.

Debbie Williams lives in a mud hut with no electricity near the coast of the Gambia.

She and her Gambian husband, Modou Fatty, have dedicated their lives to helping the local people, with Debbie running a free school for 100 children aged three to 18 and Modou building new facilities.

Debbie is currently spending two months back in the West Country, including three weeks of foreign language teaching which will pay for six months' living expenses in the Gambia.

The rest of the time she is renewing links with people who have sponsored her previously, and forging new ones.

That included watching Rachel Taylor, who hopes to raise £150 in sponsorship, running the Plymouth Half Marathon.

Plymouth schools are also chipping in by donating gifts including books, computer equipment and a 80-watt solar panel, transformer and battery.

This will enable Debbie to run a computer, charge a mobile phone or laptop or run a TV and video in the village, Mediana.

Plenty of sunlight in the equatorial country means the solar panel can generate electricity all day and store it in the battery for use after dark.

Debbie's school has proved a huge success in a desperately poor country and now boasts a play scheme, library and classroom.

School starts at 9.30am but children turn up from 7am, often bearing gifts such as a dried fish, a mango or sticks for a fire.

At 12.30pm, Debbie sends the children home while she shops for food, cooks and serves lunch for her husband and other people in the compound, washes up and prepares for afternoon lessons.

These are conducted in English, the official language of the Gambia although half the local people do not speak it; Debbie has also learned a local language called Mandinka.

The Gambia is a Moslem country and Debbie, a practising Christian, is married to a Moslem, so she observes local dress codes such as covering her hair to avoid giving offence.

It's clear she has already become something of a heroine in her adopted country.

She said: "Many people here live a Western lifestyle, but I live in a mud hut like the locals. It's roofed, the roof doesn't leak and we have mosquito nets in the windows but don't need glass as it's hot – around 32 degrees – all the time.

"The soil is sandy but incredibly fertile, and anything planted grows very quickly."

One of the problems local people suffer is poor nutrition and a lack of variety in their diet, so donations of vegetable seeds would be especially welcome, says Debbie.

Children who have never seen a jigsaw, a soft toy or a toy which makes a noise are thrilled with simple things which British kids would take for granted. While Debbie is providing education, Modou has built the schoolrooms, a water pump and proper toilets – though local children inspect them with fascination and then use their familiar latrines.

Debbie said: "I'm far happier than I could have imagined.

"I'm proud of what Modou and I have achieved together."

Debbie hopes to become a project manager, setting up another school in a second village and hiring a teacher for each.

She would also welcome visitors who want to come to the Gambia for a working holiday, including gap- year students.

Debbie returns to the Gambia at the end of July, but would appreciate donations of cash, toys, books or educational equipment before she goes. She can be contacted on 07596 249987 or by email at dwdebs@aol.com