#Article (Archive)

Belgian friends wrap up philanthropic mission to The Gambia

Nov 22, 2010, 12:24 PM | Article By: Lamin B. Darboe

Friends of The Gambia (FOG), a Belgium-based organisation that arrived in The Gambia two weeks ago, has wrapped up its presentation of gifts to social institutions in the country.

During the stay of members of the organisation in the country, they distributed useful learning materials to three lower basic schools, an upper basic school, two nursery schools, two health centres, and one women garden project, all within the Kanifing municipality and West Coast Region.

They  also presented some medical items to Somita Health Centre in Foni Berefet District of West Coast Region.

In his remarks in response to the gesture, Alhagie Junkung Camara, Chief of Foni Berefet District, commended Patrick, leader of the FOG delegation and the organisation for their invaluable support to various institutions and communities of The Gambia.

The items donated were not meant for Somita village alone but for the people of the district and West Coast Region, he said, adding that items would be put into good use

Ansu Sanyang, secretary-general of Somita Village Development Committee, and Fatou Sonko, both said they were grateful to their Belgium friends for “the kind-hearted”  support the organisation had been rendering to institutions and communities of the country in the past seven years. 

The National Assembly Member for Serekunda West, Hon. Sulayman Joof, commended also the FOG for their donation to students of Nyodema Nursery School in Manjai Kunda, where the philanthropic organisation also presented educational items. 

Hon. Joof described FOG members as "real friends of The Gambia", while calling on them to continue "the good work" of rendering support to people of the country, "especially the young ones, who are going to be the future leaders of this country".

The headmistress of the school, Mariama Darboe, thanked the FOG for the help to her school, which started seven years ago. Mrs Darboe said the items given to her school had been of immense benefit to the students and the school.

The FOG also presented medical items to Jammeh Foundation for Peace Community Health Centre in New Yundum.

Jalika Colley, Community Health Nurse (CHN) Midwife at the health centre, briefed Mr Patrick and his eleven-member delegation of the improvement their support had brought to the health centre over the years.

"You have really helped us a lot; so we count on your continual support annually," Ms Colley told the FOG members.