The Mayor of Drammen City in Norway, Tore Opdal Hansen last weekend donated 40-foot container of school furniture, worth over One Million Dalasi to Sanyang Lower Basic School in Kombo South District of Western Region.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the premises of the school, Mayor Hansen thanked the villagers of Sanyang for the warm welcome accorded to him. He said that the 40-foot container school furniture was made possible to Sanyang School, by Pa Modou Senghore, a Gambian based in Drammen City in Norway.
He said his city council in Norway has paid the shipment of the container to Banjul, noting that the items were from a school in Drammen City, called Stromso School, which was closed down for some reasons. After its closure, he stated, Pa Modou Senghore appealed to him for the furniture to be sent to The Gambia, which he added, the Mayor consented. As a result of this, he said Sanyang Lower Basic School became the beneficiary of the donated items.
He described Pa Modou Senghore as a true Gambian who lives in Norway, but his heart and mind is always for the development of The Gambia, describing him as a good ambassador for the villagers of Sanyang. This, he said, was demonstrated by his efforts of negotiating the shipment of the furniture to Sanyang School, with no cost to the villagers.
Mayor Hansen said children are the future leaders of any nation, and as such they should be provided with conducive learning environment. He thanked both Banjul City Council Mayor, Samba Faal and Sanyang villagers for conferring on him the honorary citizenship of Banjul and Sanyang.
The School Management Committee’s Chairman of Sanyang Lower Basic School Ansumana Jassey expressed sincere appreciation to Pa Modou Senghore, whom he said, is the brain behind the gesture and Mayor Hansen for his foresight.
According to him, Sanyang School was built in 1964, with an enrolment of 24 students, adding that some of the development works undertaken at the school were done by the villagers. Mr. Jassey said Sanyang School is the most recognised school within Kombo South District, asserting that every year the school produces first class students, who pass out to Upper Basic School in grade 7.
Other speakers were Lamin D. Jammeh, the head teacher of the school, Bai Bojang, a representative of the village Alkalo, Nyimansata Sanneh-Bojang and Lamin Cassama of GRCS, who spoke on behalf of Pa Modou Senghore.
