Canarias Nursery opens new building

A new classroom block was recently inaugurated at Canarias Nursery School in Lamin village, Kombo North.

Ensa Touray, the project co-ordinator of Canarias Nursery School said the class, which is the eighth block, is sponsored by their Spanish friends under the leadership of Javier Blanko and the Holland Rotarian friends under the leadership of Gert and Ingle.

According to him, the ground floor was sponsored by the Spanish for 1.9m Dalasi, while the top floor by the Rotarian friends of Holland for D 1.1m, who provided 200 new tables, 400 chairs and 80 blackboards. He added that they also provided cupboards and teachers tables, amounting to D3m. He promised that the edifice would be put to good use.

Javier Blanko, leader of the Spanish friends said they were happy to be part of the development programme of The Gambia through education. He recounted how he fell in love with the country when he was a tour operator.

Gert, one of the leaders of the Dutch delegation said they had travelled to Africa but are more impressed by the hospitality accorded to them by the Gambian people.

"We found out that The Gambia was a true Smiling Coast," he said, adding that when they visited the school they saw the leaking roof and the cooks could not give decent food to the children. This, he added prompted them to help.

"We are thankful to the Rotary of Alphen and the Ryn colleague constructors for providing for the needy," he said.

Curlos Murillo, the deputy head of mission of the Kingdom of Spain, who spoke on behalf of Ambassador Javier Benosa, said it is good to reply to local institutions since there is no tradition of co-operation of partnership with The Gambia.

He said their main aim is to encourage vocational training as it will help young Gambians to acquire professional skills for development.

"A well educated citizenship is the major economic resource for any nation. No natural resource can compare to training and education," he concluded.