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Turo Darboe gives 24 bulls to needy Muslims

Aug 5, 2013, 9:09 AM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

In observance of this year’s Laylat Al Qadr (The Night of Power), Modou Turo Darboe, the Faji-kunda-based business tycoon and Chief Executive Officer of Vision Development Foundation, VDF, yesterday donated a total of 24 bulls to needy Muslims across the country.

The animals were slaughtered and given to the needy in kilos. The gesture, an annual largesse, is geared towards helping needy Muslims to meet the most important rite of the annual Night of Power.

Hundreds of people including the young and old, women and children, joined queues at his Churchill’s Town office yesterday to benefit from Turo’s benevolence.

This is not the first time he is extending a hand of support to the less fortunate in society, as he has been giving rams to Muslims for Tobaski for the past 20 years.

Last year, he gave out a total of 19 bulls to needy Muslims during the Night of Power.

It should be noted that Turo occasionally donates generously to mosques, hospitals and schools across the country.

At his Banjul-based VDF office, a good number of students are currently benefiting from scholarships, all thanks to his generosity.

Modou Lamin Jagne, senior programme manager at Vision Development Foundation told our reporter during the distribution that the gesture has been a tradition over the past 20 years.

‘‘This gesture we are witnessing here today is also part of VDF’s annual activity of providing meat, among others, to Muslims across the country, so as to enable them observe the Night of Power like any other person in society,’’ he stated.

According to him, VDF has no boundary in providing basic needs to the poor and the needy, young or old, noting that the foundation is here to see to it that the well-being of the most vulnerable people in society is addressed.

He stated that the VDF believes in caring and sharing with Muslims not only in Ramadan, but whenever the need arises.

The VDF, he said, through its founder Modou Turo Darboe will always make it a point of duty to provide basic needs to the poor and the needy, most of whom find it difficult to have a daily meal, especially during this period.

Modou Turo Darboe, told this reporter in a brief comment that he believes in the culture of sharing his God-given wealth with the poor and the needy, just as his late father used to do.

Beneficiaries account

Soto Fatty, a beneficiary commended Turo Darboe for the benevolent gesture, noting that it has come at the right time when the price of meat has gone up and is beyond the means of the ordinary Gambian.

According to him, he woke up this morning without a single butut, but upon visiting the VDF office, he came went home smiling.

Kaddy Manka, also a beneficiary, said the gesture has been a relief for most of them, especially her, noting that for the past six months, her husband has been jobless.

She prayed for long life for Turo Darboe and his family, and called on others to emulate the gesture.

Alagie Manjang, a frequent beneficiary of Turo Darboe’s gesture, highlighted the importance of caring and sharing, especially during Ramadan.