Officials of the organisation say the gesture is made possible through the unflinching support of United Kingdom-based Al-Khair Foundation who supports the annual initiative.
“We have been able to do this thanks to Al-Khair Foundation who has been our main sponsor right from the start. We are grateful to them because today we are going to support hundred families for them to be able to have a fruitful and worthwhile festive,” National Chairperson Susan Jatta said.
She added the families will be supported with rice, sugar, oil, milk and tea, hoping that the gesture will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries. “These beneficiaries are considered as the neediest in their neighborhood and there is no doubt that the gesture will go a long way in putting smile on their faces especially during this month of Ramadan.”
Halimatou Colley, also an official of the organisation said this is their third time of giving out Ramadan gifts to Muslims across the country, adding that similar exercise were held in Farafenni and Bakau last year.
“This gesture will help keep these families stay at home during the state of public health emergency that was announced by the government due to coronavirus. I want to appeal to you (beneficiaries) to stay at home and to always adhere to the WHO and the Ministry of Health recommendations in the global fight against the coronavirus,” she said.
Alhagie Musa Manneh, a veteran broadcaster and renowned Mandinka translator at the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) said the gesture was timely, especially in the month of Ramadan and coronavirus pandemic outbreak that is halting the activities of many household heads.
“On behalf of the people of Bakau community, I sincerely thank Hear Women-The Gambia and their partners, Al-Khair Foundation for bankrolling this initiative that will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries to stay at home at this crucial time of covid-19,” he said.
Fatou Badjie, a beneficiary expressed happiness for the gesture, saying it will help her and her family a lot.