Belgium philanthropists support social institutions

The eleven-member team comprising doctors, nurses, agriculture experts and educationists will stay in the country for two weeks.

During their stay they will present educational, agricultural and health materials to institutions such as Bakoteh Annex School, Bakoteh Proper and Upper Basic Schools, Jambangjelly Nursery and Youth Centre, Siffoe Lower Basic, Nyodema Nursery and New Yundum Health Centre.

Speaking to this reporter shortly after offloading the materials at Manjai-Lodge, the chairman of BFoTG, Patrick De Vos, said friends and well-wishers in Belgium have been donating the materials to the people of The Gambia through their organization - BFoTG.

“This is the tenth time BFoTG is assisting the schools but the organization was set up in 1999 and it is an undisputed fact that quality education cannot be achieved under difficult conditions such as lack of learning materials,” Vos remarked.

This is why his organization felt it necessary to help the future leaders of The Gambia, he said, adding, that the Gambia Government is doing well in this area but they also want to be a meaningful partner to government in sectors such as health and agriculture.

He highlighted some of the projects they are undertaking this year, which include the electrification of New Yundum Lower Basic School, building of a school canteen and installation of water irrigation machine at Siffoe Lower Basic School in Region Two, furnishing computer labs at Bakoteh Annex and Proper and Upper Basic schools both in Region one.

He revealed that the organization has brought 20 laptops, 40 desktops, 3 photocopy machines, printing papers, garden tools, seedlings and other items for the projects.

He further revealed that they will also donate 165 bags of rice of 50 kilos to the parents of the sponsored students.