The
2017 financial report of The Saruja Foundation (TSF) indicates that it has made
potential progress and achievement in contribution to community economic and
livelihood empowerment in the areas of road rehabilitation and cleaning
exercises, taps and borehole maintenance and payment of borehole security. It
also indicated that the foundation’s successes were triggered by the large
number of peoples’ commitment and willingness to volunteer for progress,
including executive committee members, youth, women and elders, who give a
significant amount of their time to the activities of the foundation.
Presenting
the report before members at Saruja village in Central River Region’s Fulladou
West District, the Foundation’s treasurer Yankuba Sanneh said the Foundation
received D178, 000 as contributions and donation while D120, 175 was spent on
various development activities in the village. He further stated that the total
net assets amounted to D54, 426.36.
The
Saruja Foundation (TSF) is a registered non-profit charitable organisation
under the Laws of The Gambia Companies Act 2013 operating to address development
issues affecting the community of Saruja, and the need to foster a strong sense
of unity among the community and stakeholders of Saruja. The idea to establish
the Foundation was conceived in 2015 and was registered as a non-profit,
charitable, non-political and non-religious organisation on 7 August 2017 to
respond to the needs of the village in areas such as healthcare, education,
environmental protection, entrepreneurship, youth empowerment and cultural
promotion.
Mr.
Mustapha Nyabally, the President of the Foundation said Saruja natives living
in the diaspora have also made a significant contribution to the Foundation’s
success, saying in total, everyone in the community has made a contribution to
the successes.
Ansumana
Conateh, the Foundation’s Secretary-General said they established the
foundation to create a united, prosperous and dynamic community by harmoniously
working closely to identify appropriate and innovative solutions to sustainably
support all Sarujankas in a way worthy of emulation by others. He said the
Foundation work with the citizens and friends of Saruja village both at home
and abroad to holistically address issues affecting the village. “We believe
that collective participation shall make us triumph in our endeavours by fostering
unity and love regardless of our individual differences.”
Representing
the Alkalo of the community, Mr. Sheriff Trawally expressed commitment towards
village development, reminding members that the village belongs to all of “us”
and the Alkalo is ready to give any form of support to the foundation in
achieving its objectives.
Other
speakers include Kebuteh Conateh and Bura Jaiteh, both members of the
Foundation’s advisory committee.