WIM Vereecken was speaking while on a site visit in the North Bank Region of projects funded by the Belgium Cooperation through Solidarity for Agriculture, SOLIDAGRO.
He hailed the community of Njoffen in Lower Nuimi for their steadfastness in promoting adult literacy, noting that literacy contributes to human development and poverty reduction.
He noted that the partnership between the Belgiam NGO, NATC and ADWAC in the North Bank Region was aimed at improving the lives of the rural population to enhance sustainable development.
Alh. Mama Manneh, director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre, underscored his agency’s commitment to the timely implementation of the three-year project on water and sanitation, horticulture, livestock and poultry production, as well as environmental protection.
Dodou Jallow, project coordinator for Gambia and Senegal, expressed satisfaction with the level of participation of beneficiary farmers.
He assured all of the project’s support to farmers in both countries to bring about meaningful development.
Haddy Joof, secretary of the women’s group, who doubles as the literacy facilitator at Njoffen, hailed the NATC for building their capacity on group management and good governance to enhance community involvement and participation.
She said the provision of potable clean water had contributed immensely in improving the health of women and children.
The vegetable garden empowers women to increase their income and boost the nutrition, and the participation of women in literacy classes had enhance communication, she added.
