A
charitable organisation registered in The Gambia and Holland, 4Gambia
Foundation, is embarking on initiatives and implementing projects to make life
better for Gambians.
Since
formation in 2012, the foundation has been involved with different projects in
The Gambia such as education, health and sports as well as giving support on
other areas to needy families.
The
foundation’s positive live transformation strives was recently recognised by
the Voice Achievers Award, a project of
The Voice magazine in The Netherlands to recognise Africans and friends of
Africa for their outstanding achievements on yearly basis.
At
its annual award night held in The Netherlands in October this year, 4Gambia
Foundation was awarded in recognition of its “outstanding achievements”.
Geke
Lagerburg-Schutte, the Dutch founder of 4Gambia, said the award is no way going
to make them complacent because at the start of the foundation, they were not
thinking of any award. They were doing
what they are doing for the sake of helping Gambians.
If
anything, she said, the award is a motivation to continue to do more and that
is what they would do.
In
the area of education, the foundation is currently sponsoring 50 students
across the board, from nursery to senior secondary school.
As
government schools are tuition-free, the Dutch woman said their sponsorship
takes care of books, both exercise and text books, school bags, uniforms,
transport fare, and other academic need up to certain amount.
Mrs
Lagerburg-Schutte said their sponsorship, for now, stops at grade 12 but they
are looking at the possibility to continue supporting the students at tertiary
level and also supporting those at skills centres.
In
addition to sponsorship, the foundation is also supporting Kerr Ngoyan Lower
Basic School in North Bank Region, and Batokunku Nursery and Primary School in
West Coast Region.
At
Kerr Ngoyan, the Dutch woman said the foundation is currently fencing the
premises of the school and had initially supported the roofing of the main
classroom block. They have also changed
the dilapidated windows and doors of the classroom to new ones.
She
said plans are also underway to help the school with a library and kitchen, as
requested by the school administration.
At
Batokunku, the first project of the foundation, they refurbished the nursery
school after it was in a terrible state.
The
foundation roofed the only classroom block of the school. Later on, they fenced the premises and also
bough benches for the classrooms.
They
had installed playgrounds at the school in collaboration with another
foundation, Gambia Speelt Mee, and also periodically buy uniform for the needy
students.
The
Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has been impressed with the operation
of the nursery school and granted it permission to be expanded to a primary
school. The foundation built two
temporary classrooms to serve as primary school while the community identifies
a permanent site for the expansion.
Amadou
Demba, 4Gambia Foundation national coordinator, said in the area of sports,
they have support more than 25 footballs clubs and academies with materials
such as jerseys, footballs, football boots, trophies, etc.
“We
hoping to do more because we have a long waiting listing of teams requesting
for support,” he said.
On
the side of health, he said the foundation is currently supporting a midwife in
Brufut by giving her medicines and medical equipment.
They
have also visited Sittanunku village in Upper Nuimi District where the village
clinic is dilapidated and the village is looking for support to have it
running.
Mr
Demba said though they do not promised the village, they will look into the
possibility of supporting.
Meanwhile,
4Gambia Foundation recently had a meeting at the President International Award
in Bakau with their sponsored children together with the parents and guardians
of the children.
The
meeting provided the platform to interface with the parents and guardians of
the students to discuss the importance of education.
One
of the sponsored students, who recently completed grade 12 at Mindaw Junior and
Secondary School, Basirou Ceesay, hailed the foundation for supporting his
education.
“Thanks
to your sponsorship, I did not lack any school material; I have never been sent
home for lack of books or any academic material needed at my school,” he
said. “Your sponsorship made it possible
for me to attended extra classes so as to double up in my areas of
weakness. I cannot thank you enough for
your support.”
