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Gambia Experience Donates Over D300,000 to Schools

Apr 17, 2008, 6:15 AM | Article By: By Baboucarr Senghore

The Gambia Experience, a leading tour operator in the country, recently presented six cheques amounting to D352,600.00 to six schools in the country.

The annual donation forms part of the money collected from The Gambia Experience customers as its contribution towards funding school projects in the country.

The beneficiaries are Jarra Barrow Kunda Lower Basic, Jiffarong Lower Basic, Kudang Lower Basic, Panchang Basic Cycle, Buduk Lower Basic and Niana Senior Secondary School.

The donation is, among other things, earmarked for the renovation of classroom blocks, fencing of schools and gardens, and the transformation of staff quarters.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Joyce Stavroulakis, Resort Manager, Gambia Experience said her organisation has been making such gestures for the past 20 years, reaching out to schools throughout the country.

Lamin Manneh, a member of staff with The Gambia Experience said their targets are schools that are far away in the provinces in order to enable them to also benefit from quality education.

"We have been doing this for the past 20 years by giving out funds to help schools develop. We believe that without education, there will be no better future", he said.

Receiving the cheques on behalf of the schools, Dr. Pap Sey, a representative from the State Department for Education, commended The Gambia Experience for what he described as a noble and timely gesture.

According to Dr. Sey, though companies are out to make profits, The Gambia Experience is one that is out not only to make money but also contribute meaningfully towards nation building.

He also used the occasion to urge the beneficiaries to make best use of the money donated to them as it will go a long way in complementing governments efforts to provide education for all.