Gunjur women gardeners hail donors, others

In a bid to express gratitude and delight, the Gunjur women vegetable gardeners have hailed their donors and agents for the selfless services they have been rendering to them.

This followed an additional donation of D22, 500, being monies disbursed by Sarah Gardener and Jackie Livermore to the women gardeners of Gunjur through their host, Mr. Kebba K Barrow, alias KKB to complete the fencing of the Mbanbanta Garden in Gunjur.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Mr. Kebba K Barrow, said the gesture was as a result of the visit made by Geoff Anderson and a group of school teachers in Gunjur, who extended their stay because of the Icelandic volcano.

Barrow added that the donated amount was also part of the money raised through the Winchcome School in Newbury in the County of Wiltshire in the UK. He said Geoff Anderson, the group leader and his wife Dee also contributed part of the money.

According to him, at least D200, 000 was raised for the completion of four projects, including the construction of concrete benches in Fayunku Garden in 2007, the building of four toilets in Fayunku Garden in 2008, building of two toilets in Mbanbanta Garden in 2009 and the erection of the chain-link.

"The fencing at Mbanbanta was the focus this time, to prevent the sheep and goats from breaking in to eat the vegetables. And by the time this has been completed a total of twenty-six rolls of plastic covered chain-link fencing, costing nearly D50, 000 will have been purchased," he stated.

Mr. Barrow added that apart from the fencing of Mbanbanta and physically helping the women in watering their gardens, the UK teachers also find time to associate themselves with the community.

He further informed the gathering that Geoff and his group have to target the needs of the whole community, noting that their policies include funding projects that are within their financial limits, and if possible complete it within the group's stay.

This, he said, has helped the donors to participate directly in the implementation of the projects and see for themselves the fruits of their fundraising programmes.

He finally thanked the donors and wished them success in all their endeavours.

The women, who spoke at the occasion expressed gratitude to the donors, KKB and Faburama Darboe, alias Kangpungo of the Trust Agency for Rural Development (TARUD) for their tireless and selfless services to the development of their garden and the whole community at large.