The Roots Nursery School Charity initiative started when two Hertfordshire residents took a holiday to The Gambia in 2006. Whilst there they visited the village of Juffureh, birthplace of Kunta Kinte, to take the Roots tour and meet with the family of Kunta Kinte and Alex Haley, author of Roots.

On 2nd November 2006 Mark (one of the tourists), engaged in conversation with the tour guide, who also happened to be the grandson of the matriarch of the Kinte family, Karfa Kinte, and also cousin to the headmaster of the local nursery school. Another conversation ensued and the headmaster agreed to show him the school. Mark was upset by what he saw as the building appeared to be in a state of disrepair only to find out that it was less than six months old. He noticed a large hole in the ground which was for a future toilet block but they had insufficient funds. They exchanged email addresses and Mark continued with his holiday and the headmaster continued with his teaching.

On returning to the UK Mark was still upset by what he had seen went out to companies he did business with and got together the £500 needed to construct the toilets. In March 2007 he returned to The Gambia to visit the school and instruct a local contractor to carry out the construction of the toilet block. Although other organisations were helping the school we paid the teachers a nominal salary, provided school uniforms, mosquito nets and educational materials for the 100 + pupils and worked with them to develop the school.

November 2nd 2006 was the starting point for the Roots Nursery School Charity and the beginning of a long collaboration between the two organisations.

The Roots Nursery School Charity became a UK registered charity on 7th December 2009