Jurarim
Organization for Youth Excellence (JOYE) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit
organization registered both in the United States and The Gambia whose mission
is to promote youth excellence by providing a beneficial environment for
learning.
The
organization recently donated various seed varieties to Faji-kunda Dumos Farato
gardeners, to help build a lasting relationship with them while providing them
with much needed garden and vegetable seeds.
The
seeds included packets of water melons, tomato, sweet pepper, hot pepper,
cabbage, okra, carrot, lettuce, black beans, garden eggs and curcuma were
donated to JOYE by Child First Meds in Texas, USA.
Child
First is also one of JOYE’s partners and has worked with for the past four
years.
Speaking
at the presentation ceremony held at the Faji-kunda Dumos Farato, Sheriff
Kijera, JOYE Foundation Programme Coordinator, said they were impressed with
the work at the garden but also realised that they needed support when they
previously visited it, which resulted in donating the seeds to them.
Kijera
noted that the foundation is based in the United States of America and raised
funds to support and provide for its programmes and services on the ground.
He
said JOYE had sponsored over 250 students, worked in over 22 communities, dug 2
wells and provided summer school and other extracurricular activities for its
beneficiaries.
For JOYE, he stated, sponsorship does not end
with just providing financial support, it takes a holistic approach by
providing for the whole needs of the child.
JOYE
believes in approaching education in a holistic manner, Mr Kijera stated,
adding that they have also bought a garden in Faraba Bantang which they intend
to make into model horticulture.
They
have also bought a place to use as a boarding school to be able to house and
monitor the education of their sponsored students.
According
to Kijera, they previously supported communities and schools in the North Bank
Region with seeds but decided to extend it to the Greater Banjul Area since
they need to be monitoring the germination, progress and yield of the seeds.
Aminata
Correa, the defeated PPP candidate for Latrikunda Sabiji in the recently
concluded National Assembly election, showed her gratitude and thanked JOYE for
the support.
She
said through the donation they are empowering their local farmers, brothers and
sisters in the gardens they are working and earning a living as well as
supporting their families.
Ebrima
Njie, Faji-kunda Alkalo, urged the beneficiaries to make best use of the seeds
given to them in order to gain something from it that would benefit them and
their families as well as the wider society.
Musa
Camara, a male gardener, said they would ensure they are given the seeds to be
used for the right purpose.
