Amherst-Pelham Regional High School
Amherst-Pelham Regional High School Credit: GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

AMHERST — Amherst Regional High School students who recently returned from a trip to The Gambia and Senegal will share their experiences during a community event Thursday.

The Sene-Gambian Scholars, whose 10 members participated in the sixth exchange to the West African nations, invite the public to learn about their time visiting schools and cultural sites and living with host families.

The event takes place at the high school library Thursday at 7 p.m., with a slideshow of highlights and a question-and-answer period. Refreshments will be served.

Among the sites visited was the Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar, Senegal. Each student also conducted a research project on an aspect of life or a current issue in West Africa.

The first two exchange trips to West Africa took place in 2013 and 2016, with students from Senegal then visiting Amherst in 2014 and 2017. 

The group is advised by Mary Custard, Ann Paradis, Bruce Penniman and Momodou Sarr.

For more information, email pennimanb@arps.org.

Scott Merzbach is a reporter covering local government and school news in Amherst and Hadley, as well as Hatfield, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury. He can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5253.