The ceremony was held at DDYF office in Jambanjelly, West Coast Region.
Thematerials which cost D650,000include wheelbarrows, chicken wires, NPK fertilizer, organic fertilizer, watering cans, rakes, spades, hose pipes, nails and hand forks.
Lamin Sanneh, board chairman for DDYF in his remarks explained that the community based organisation work in ten communities where it supports the development of family economic empowerment and social protection, supports individual children to avail themselves the opportunity to attain improved quality basic education as well as life and livelihood skills.
He added that they have essential resources within reach that they utilise to improve qualities of life financially and/or health and therefore encouraged beneficiaries to make best use of the materials and endeavor to ensure the aim of the initiative is met.
Alieu Mendy, manager for DDYF said they have an enrollment of 3883 children within their program but 2775 are sponsored.
He therefore called on all and sundry to partner with them in ensuring children in Kombo North and South District attain their potentials.
He highlighted that the objective of the backyard gardening initiative is to ensure families have adequate supply of fresh vegetable such that its consumption enhances good health for their households.
He added that over 50 households have previously benefited from the backyard gardening approach and are currently doing well.
Malang Janneh, National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) Nutrition Field Officer for West Coast Region said they advise mothers in their work to book and wean their children earlyfor antenatal care to reduce malnutrition in the country because the more malnutrition children, the more impact on our economy.
He also advised them to exclusively breastfeed their children. He noted that when garden products are consumedeffectively, it reflects in our health.
Awa Gibba, Program Specialist for Early Childhood Development at ChildFund – The Gambia said they are working with DDYF to reduced malnutrition in the country from 15% to 7%.
She commended the federation for developing communities they operate in. She pointed out to beneficiaries that the backyard gardens are not meant for economic gains but to provide nutritious meals for children and householdsand therefore urged them to ensure there is bumper harvest for adequate nutritional status and enough to eat.
She further called on parents to ensure children are taken care of and their nutritional needs provided.
Boto Bojang, councilor for Bamba Banko Ward said all have a stake in the protection, growth and development of children to ensure they become productive citizens in future.
He stated thatchildren cannot live a productive life in the absence of good health and nutritious balanced diets and therefore commended DDYF for their initiative.
Jamanti Manjang, a beneficiary thanked Ding-Ding Yiriwa Federation and ChildFund – The Gambia for their generosity on behalf of beneficiaries. He assured them that they will put the materials into good use.
