The
National Director of 4H Gambia has lauded their partners in Norway for their
contribution to the socio economic development of women and youth.
Alieu
Ceesay was speaking recently at Farafenni during the networking visit of
officials of TANGO, the umberlla body of NGos in The Gambia.
The
officials were on a visit to member organisations to gather first-hand
information about their activities and challenges.
Mr
Ceesay said TANGO is “very instrumental” in providing capacity building to
member organisations and facilitating networking with others.
He
said 4H Gambia is working with 60 youth clubs in North Bank and Central River
regions in promoting food production, animal husbandry and providing revolving
loan schemes.
A
programme to promote the concept of 4H in schools was piloted at Jamaly and
Gisadi Lower Basic schools in the Central River Region, and it was “a great
success”.
Tor
Martin Stenseng of 4H Norway , who is leading a team from Norway on a follow-up
visit, commended their sister organisation in The Gambia for their
steadfastness, and succesful implementation of development projects for 4H
clubs in North Bank and Central River regions.
The
team leader said 4H Norway annually organises project follow-up visits to
intervention sites, during which they hold discusions with beneficiaries and
finalise the annual workplan for the next three years of cooperation.
The
new agreement, covering the next three years, with 4H Gambia includes working
with schools to promote the concept of 4H, which includes ‘clear health, warm
health, clever heart and good health’ with a slogan: ‘Learning by doing’.
Mr
Stenseng lauded the sister organisation of 4H Norway in The Gambia for the
sound partnership spanning 25 years.
Musa
Saho, project manager of Promoting Equity of Access to Resources, an EC-funded
project of the Agency Village Support (AVISU), said the project has established
marketing federation groups in Central River Region south to boost marketing,
as a remedy to ease the constraints of producers.
They
facilitated the registration process of the federation with the Attorney
General’s Chambers, provided office space for them in Brikamaba, equipped the
office with laptop, filing cabinet and printer, and also gave them a motorcycle.
Bala
Drammeh, project manager of Senegal-Gambia Agro Ecological Village (SAEVE)
project, said they usually embark on capacity building of farmers to adopt cost
effective ways of promoting the use of local resources to enhance food
production.
The
project empowers farmers to be aware of risks associated climate change on food
production.
The
project provided a standard seed store for the communities of Bati Yonko and
Kofa in Upper Saloum, established a central tree nursery and embarked on
programmes to promote the idea of agro forestry.