(Thursday 22nd October 2009 Issue)
Tumani Danjo, the President of Beakanyang (equal opportunities for all), a registered community-based organisation in the Upper River Region has spoken at length about the secrets behind the success of his organisation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Point during the weekend in Basse, Danjo reveled that the success of his organisation was as a result of commitment, dedication and selfless sacrifice of its members to the association.
?For us at Beakanyang, we believe in team work and as a result, we are registering progress,? he said.
According to the Beakanyang President, they formed the organisation in 2001 with the sole aim of improving the livelihood of the people of Wuli Barrow Kunda and its environs.
The organisation, he added, is focusing on three key areas of development, including education, health and agriculture.
In the area of education, he said, through its Orphans Care Project they have supported so many less privilege children in the community by sponsoring their education.
The charity, he said, also facilitated the construction of the village Islamic school, both financially and morally.
He revealed that last year the organisation has initiated a project to eradicate malaria in the community but was not successful due to financial constraints.
Danjo, however, revealed that this year they are anticipating collaboration with genuine partners to fight against malaria.
The project, he said, will kick-off before the end of the year and will boost the campaign against the killer-disease with the aim of providing mosquito treated bed net to every person in Barrow Kunda.
He said that the organisation is out to complement government?s effort in bringing development to the doorsteps of every Gambian.
He hailed President Jammeh?s back-to-the-land clarion call, which he said, they have positively responded to.
Beakanyang leader told this reporter that to ensure sustainability of the project; beneficiary communities must be involved in various stages of project development.
He called on development partners to involve grassroots organisations.
Danjo finally appealed to government and NGOs to come to their aid, noting that their aim is to reach out to the wider community.
?In Beakanyang everyone is a volunteer and we do mobilise our own resources locally to develop our area to mobilise our own resources locally to develop our area but we still need outside support to enable us make more impact,? he concluded.
