Catholic Education Foundation donates Advance School

The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) based in Holland on Monday donated school furniture to Advance Nursery and Lower Basic School in Region one.

Wilfried Holdes, a representative from CEF in Holland, and Yaya Manneh, the CEF Gambian counterpart, handed over the items to the school on behalf of the foundation at a ceremony held at the school grounds.

Speaking at the ceremony, the headmistress of the school, Ms Mbayang Jobe, thanked Catholic Education Foundation in Holland for their timely donation of furniture to her school describing it as a step in the right direction.

Ms Jobe assured the donors that the donated furniture would be properly utilised by the school.

She also called on the donors to continue assisting the school to augment the learning environment for students.

In handing over the donation, a representative from CEF in Holland, Wilfried Holdes, said he was very much delighted at handing over 77 joint tables and chairs for students and 20 chairs for teachers to Advance Nursery and Lower Basic School. He said CEF has built relationship with Advance School since 2008 and in January 2009 they visited the school where they had the opportunity to discuss with the Parents Teacher's Association (PTA) members of the school to know the needs of the school.

Mr Holdes said the donation was the first CEF had made to the school and promised to send more in the near future.

He added that CEF could not outline the needs of the school hence the reason for involving PTA members on the discussion since at the inception of the partnership.

Other speakers on the occasion included Yaya Manneh, Pastor Emmanuel Kamara, Kemo Jallow - school cluster monitor for clusters eight, Sylvester Odion, and Mr Ousman Camara, PTA Chairman.

Mr Axeem Abuda thanked the donors and all supporters of the school for their contribution to the development of the school while Yusuph Ehi chaired the ceremony.