(Wednesday July 20, 2016 Issue)
The
First lady and chairperson of Operation Save the Children Foundation, Zineb
Jammeh, through her foundation has donated D500,000 to the Ministry of Basic
and Secondary Education to support their inclusive school feeding programme
initiative.
The
beneficiaries are the Gambia Organization for Visually Impaired (GOVI), St.
John’s School for the Deaf and Methodist School for Learning Difficulties.
Speaking
at the presentation ceremony held yesterday at State House in Banjul, the
Executive Director of Operation Save the Children Foundation (OSCF), Fatou Mass Jobe, said the first lady strongly believes that the provision of nutritious
meals in the school environment for children with special needs would ensure
they eat in a safe environment and at the right time.
She
added that children with special needs like other children need nutritious
meals to learn more effectively, disclosing that the first lady has pledged to
support MoBSE’s inclusive school feeding programme with D500,000 annually,
starting from 2016.
The
permanent secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Baboucarr Bouy,
said when it comes to children with special needs, as a ministry they are so
passionate about children.
They
consider them to be very special and he, on behalf of all the special children
in The Gambia, expressed sincere gratitude to the first lady for the generous
donation.
PS
Bouy mentioned that it was not a surprise to them because following the first
lady’s intervention, the kids in special needs in general have a special place
in her heart and the work she does.
The
donation, he said, was only meant for school feeding not for every student, the
school for the blind, the centre of special needs for learning difficulties,
and the St. John’s School for the Deaf.
For
supporting the MoBSE, Anna Nancy Mendy from MoBSE said there was no doubt that
school feeding is very essential, and has proven to be a major part of contributing
to education.
Thus,
she said, the decision of the first lady is to provide school feeding to the
most vulnerable group in the society.
Mrs
Mendy thanked the first lady for her kind generosity, and prayed for her long
life to continue doing such.
“I
hope that it will not stop only on school feeding, but will go on to other
things that we really want to ensure that they get the maximum education
needed,” she pleaded.
The
representative from World Food Programme, Francis Abanzi, said the foundation of
any nation depends on education, saying that it is education that brings in
feeding of the children that develops the nation.
He
said school feeding is one of the ways that contributes to nation building,
urging everyone to support school feeding.
He
also pointed out that school feeding ensures that children are kept in school
and help in getting the foundation of behaviour that are conducive for
education and development, both physically and mentally.
Mr
Abanzi thanked the first lady, MoBSE and the department of Social Welfare for
contributing to the health of the children, adding that school feeding should
be the business of everybody.
Representing
ChildFund Gambia, Kebba Jaiteh, said ChildFund has very keen interest in
children, in general, emphasising that it is everybody’s responsibility to pay
attention to them, because they are part of the society.
He
added that disability does not mean they do not contribute equally to the
building of the nation.
The
director of Social Welfare, Ajaratou Fanta Bai Secka, also thanked the first
lady for her ceaseless support to all the activities in the area of child
protection.
She
said children with difficulties need special treatment, adding that they need
special support, so providing them with school meals would boost their health
status, as well as education.
She
called on all individuals to help these children to make sure that school meals
are provided to every child in The Gambia.
