Catalyst Academy trains 25 Madarassa students via organic horticulture

The program was designed to provide Madarassa students with practical, hands-on skills in organic horticulture and composting so as to avail participants the opportunity to engage in interactive field-based sessions and sustainable agricultural practices, among a host of others.

Participants were drawn from the Al-Huda and Al-Nour Quranic Memorization School as well as the Ummah Aminah school.

Officials say the next training will focus on aqua-farming where another set of 25 Madarassa students will be trained.  

Giving an overview of the initiative, Professor Momodou Sallah, director of Catalyst Academy, reminded that the Academy was established as a social enterprise and help enhance the skills of people on sustainable livelihood project.

 “We want participants to go back and support the Madarassas in their livelihoods and also ensure individuals acquire skills to support themselves.” he said.

Elizabeth Sylvia Mendy, Operations Manager at Catalyst Academy, described the initiative as a sustainable livelihood project dedicated to working in collaboration with Drop of Compassion, a charity organisation based in the United Kingdom. 

The training, she added, intends to support 75 students from the three Madarassa schools as the current programme recently graduated 25 students focusing on organic horticulture and composting.

“The purpose of the training is to teach them how to engage into sustainable activities.” she said.

She explained that the first phase initially focused on beekeeping, another initiative which attracted 25 Madarassa students who underwent various steps in honey production.  

Mendy revealed that at the end of each phase of training participants are expected to go back to their various schools and practice the knowledge gained as well expand to include other Centers countrywide.

She spoke highly of the training that the outcome will not only be used for subsistence purpose, but to also generate income by venturing into commercial farming.

Sheikh Essa Darboe, official at Gunjur Islamic Institute for Science and Technology, who is also the president of the Supreme Islamic Council, thanked the organisers for the support rendered to the Madarassa and memorisation centers in the country.

“It is a fact that Madarassa schools are struggling for their sustainability even though it is in their plan to integrate these programmes alongside Quranic Memorization and Islamic Studies.”

“We want our students to learn our religion, but at the same time, we want to see them gain skills,” he said.