The British High Commissioner to The Gambia, Mr. Phil Sinkinson accompanied by Mrs. Haddijatou Lamin-Njie, VSO Country Director, on Tuesday 27th October, 2009, inspected two bilateral programme budget - unded community initiative projects, each of which received D25, 000.
The visit commenced at Faraba Banta Basic Cycle School .The bilateral programme budget is money allocated annually by the foreign and commonwealth office for overseas posts to spend on project activities. The distribution of the fund is usually handled by a third party, an NGO, who monitor the project on site and give regular feedback.
Speaking at the project sites, the VSO Country Director, Mrs. Haddijatou Lamin Njie said from May 2008 to date, VSO has received approximately D1, 000, 000 from the British High Commission, to support 30 projects in poor and disadvantaged communities in The Gambia. She noted that the small project initiative fund is used to enhance education facilities in schools and communities, enhance methods of agricultural production and increase income level in rural households. She also added that this support from the British High Commission is highly appreciated as it is used to directly support the poor.
According to her, the library project at Faraba Bantaba Basic Cycle School is one of the many projects that are implemented to support teaching and learning.
For his part, the British High Commissioner, Phil Sinkinson expressed delight at the projects. He urged the communities to continue the hard work, while assuring them of more support in the near future.
Other speakers at the project sites included Mr. Lamin Saidykhan, the Executive Secretary of WACC project, who gave a brief background about the project, stating that among others, it seeks to reduce poverty, literacy and unemployment through capacity-building, skills development and advocacy.
Mr. Kemo Bah, the Head Master of Faraba Bantang Basic Cycle School also spoke at the site. He commended the British High Commission for improving the condition of the school.
