Foni Ding Ding Federation holds Maiden marathon in Bwiam

Foni Din Ding Federation, a local partner to ChildFund The Gambia based in Bwiam Foni Kansala district of the West Coast Region on Tuesday organized its first Marathon run.

The 4 Km marathon run which brought together 10 young athletic girls while the sensitisation was witnessed by over 60 young girls within their operation area. The events were funded by Foni Ding Ding Federation.

The theme of the Marathon run was “Run against Teenage Pregnancy, No Sex before Marriage.”

Speaking to participants shortly after the event, Foni Din Ding Federation manager, Edi Bah, spoke at length on the significance of the event, saying the federation has realised that there was high rate of teenage pregnancy within the federation’s operation area due to poverty.

He said to address the menace, his federation deemed it fitting to come with such event to sensitise young girls on the dangers and consequences of teenage pregnancy to enable them become not only responsible people but also better future leaders and role models in their respective communities.

Foni Din Ding Federation’s Sponsorship and Program Coordinator, said the motive behind the activity was to make sure that the girl folks are involved meaningfully in their programmes.

According to him, over the years the federation has been engaged in series of activities. However, cognizant of the fact that many of their activities are directed at empowering the young people specifically the male children, they realised that many a time, girls are left behind which is a social norm the federation wants to get out of their system.

He disclosed that the federation wants to create equal opportunities for boys as well as girls in their programming by organizing the marathon and sensitization against teenage pregnancy thus using marathon sport as a strategy.

For her part, a participant, Nyarra Bojang of Kampant village under Bwiam community association expressed delight at emerging winner of the marathon, saying that she would always be the federation ambassador as well as sensitising her peers, friends and other young girls about the consequences of teenage pregnancy.

She challenged young girls to focus on their education to enable them become responsible parents.

Nyarra Bojang of Kampant, who emerged winner received (D2000) two thousand dalasis, 2nd placed, Awa Bah of Sintet village received (D1500) one thousand five hundred dalasis while the 3rd placed, Jarra Colley of Dobong received (D1000) one thousand dalasis and the rest of the participants received D200 each respectively.