Help
for Education and Local Projects in The Gambia (HELPING), an International NGO
based in The North Bank Region, organised a youth camp for its sponsored
students at HELPING LODGE in Fass Njagga Choi from 21 to 23 July 2017.
The
three-day camp was meant to create an avenue for sponsored students to
familiarise themselves with each other, expose to them developmental issues,
information technology and leadership skills.
The
camp was also meant to avail the students the opportunity to know how the
charity’s sponsorship program works.
Twenty-seven
students were drawn from Fass, Medina Serigne Mass, Pakau Ngogu, Chamen and
Touba Angalleh Schools.
Speaking
during the official opening ceremony, the Helping Lodge Manager, Buba Sowe,
welcomed the participants to the lodge and advised them to make good use of the
opportunity given to them as sponsored children.
The
Helping Charity National Coordinator, Sarjor Sarr, delivered the keynote
address to the participants on behalf of the UK Committee.
Mr
Sarr thanked the students for turning up to what he described as a very
important milestone in the work of the charity.
He
described the camp as a platform to help the sponsored students build their
capacities on information technology, leadership skills and to make them aware
of ongoing development issues.
The camp would also help participants
effectively disseminate the knowledge acquired in their various schools, Sarr
said, and he advised the students to be reading their books.
He
noted that the sponsorship programme was based on both the need and
performance, hence under performance would not be accepted.
Baboucarr
Nyang, the deputy Board Chair of the Charity, called on the students to be more
committed with their schooling and be studious as they have all the opportunity
to do so.
‘’The
Charity is doing everything to help you, therefore, you also need to help yourselves,’’
he challenged them.
Other
Speakers Included Karamo Manjang, the sponsorship coordinator of the charity
who shared similar sentiments.
He
also advised students to study hard and be committed to their education to
achieve their goals.
