The
Iceland Friendship Association – The Gambia (IFAG), a charitable organisation
operating in The Gambia since 2009, on Saturday 8 October 2016 launched its
project called “The Salikenni Project”.
The
organisation benefitted from funding from the Government of Iceland through its
partner organisation.
The
project is poised to providing educational support to over some hundred needy
students for the 2016/2017 academic year and beyond.
The
support is available for North Bank Region students in upper basic and senior
secondary schools, tertiary education (technical and vocational) as well as the
university.
The
launching saw each student benefit from 2 sets of uniforms, a school bag, 15
exercise books, text books, an oxford dictionary, a set of box, pens, drawing
books, graft books, rulers, a calculator and novels from the project, aimed at
supporting access to quality and relevant education.
In
addition to the above mentioned materials, each student from upper basic school
received D2,000 as lunch money.
Those
from senior secondary and tertiary education schools each received D3,000 while
those at university each received D4,500 as lunch money.
Speaking
on the occasion held at Salikenni Basic Cycle School, Njundu Drammeh, IFAG
Board Chairman, said the organisation focuses on child rights promotion and
protection, education, women and youth empowerment through community
participation.
He
described children as not only future leaders but leaders of today as well and
as such should be given the necessary support and guidance to ensure they
become better leaders.
He
observed that nations that have developed first invested in their children,
noting: “Educating children brings development to self, communities, nations
and the world at large.”
Mr
Drammeh called on parents to equip their children with education to become
productive and responsible citizens of The Gambia and the world.
He
urged students to be hard working, committed and discipline.
He
also revealed that the organisation plans to establish a computer lab and an
electronic library at the school.
The
Governor of North Bank Region, Lamin Queen Jammeh, in his launching statement,
pointed out that the association is not big but has a big heart, saying
associations are many in the country but IFAG’s types are rare.
He
therefore thanked IFAG management for their courage and efforts at supporting
students from upper to university level.
“There
is no better way to fight poverty than education,” he remarked, saying parents,
teachers, students and sponsors all have a stake in education and as such each
should play its part fully.
He
also urged the organisation to consider late developers in the sponsorship.
Governor
Jammeh also reserved special praise for Fabakary Kalleh, who he said is always
in for national development matters.
Kerewan
Area Council chairman, Alh. Lamin Ceesay commended the association for their
efforts and urged its members to continue the good and noble work, saying
government alone can’t do it all.
He
also advised students that education does not take place in the absence of
sacrifices.
Alagie
Jagne, Central Badibu Chief, said education brings about development,
self-dependency and as such nothing better can go beyond what the association
did.
Lamin
Fatajo, Regional Education Officer and Human Resource director, thanked the
association for complementing government’s efforts at making education
available for all.
He
also urged students not to disappoint the trust the association has in
selecting them, but to work hard to also benefit others in future.
Mariama
Sonko, in delivering the vote of thanks on the occasion, assured the
association that they would never let them down, saying: “It’s a promise and
not a vow. We will always pass our exams with flying colours.”
