It would be recalled that in 2020, GRCS conducted an assessment in communities affected by the adverse effects of climate change on the livelihoods of women. It was discovered that there was a felt need to support the women from most disadvantaged communities in West Coast Region in order to boost their vegetable production, thereby increasing their income level.
Based on the outcome from the assessment, GRCS in collaboration with both the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Japanese Red Cross Society committed to supporting Kandonku horticultural gardening.
GRCS’s move was to reduce vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change on the livelihood of women, including variability at community level and promote, transfer and adoption of adaptation technology for vegetable production.
At the handing over, Alasan Senghore, secretary general of The Gambia Red Cross Society assured of GRCS’s continuous engagement with the community on how best the community manages the borehole and garden.
He highlighted that the most important issue is delivery and accountability and that is what GRCS tries to achieve in all its interventions.
SG Senghore maintained that as an institution it is important to deliver quality and timely services, saying if you are not transparent and accountable, your institution will never be credible or get resources which is why many institutions are failing.
He thus appealed to beneficiaries to make best use of the garden and maintain the borehole facilities.
He equally appealed to men to support women at the garden, further thanking the contractor (SWE-GAM) for the tireless work.
Mohammed Omer Mukhier, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) regional director for Africa, thanked the leadership of GRCS for their steadfastness, vision and commitment towards humanity.
Jung Darboe, alkalo of Kandonku, described the project as one of a kind, saying they have never benefitted from a project of such magnitude.
“When women are empowered the entire world is empowered and I therefore thank The Gambia Red Cross Society and partners for their assistance.”
Kuleh Sako, Kandonku women president said the difficulties they had over the years had been eradicated within the year of the project.
The project, she added, has strengthened their food, health, income and education securities.
She however, appealed for storage, market and transportation for their garden produce.
Yaya Darboe, chair of Village Development Committee, recalled that the garden was established in 1978, acknowledging that facilities installed at the garden are one of its kind in the district.
