Receiving the items at a handing ceremony held at the school ground, Ousman Sillah, Chairperson of CITVETF, while expressing appreciation for the items, described the gesture as ‘timely and laudable.’
The items, he added, would significantly boost their ongoing efforts to train more students in skills development.
Sillah acknowledged that this was not the first time that the Italian NGO had come to their aid, recalling that they earlier provided some scholarships for the trainees to undergo training.
“They also donated D150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand dalasis) to the Foundation late last year, which was used to cover part of the 65% scholarship given the students.” he added.
The Crab Island TVET board chairperson called on all to break barriers and manifest love and care about each other regardless of background, race and gender.
To that end, he extolled the virtues of selfless service and implored the students/trainees to nurture that spirit and desire of committing themselves to be of service to their communities and country, in particular, and humanity, at large.
“I want to clearly emphasise that any student, who passes through Crab Island TVET Centre to become anybody in society tomorrow and fails to live by the tenets and values of giving back to others that inspired and motivated the revival of this Centre, has committed an unpardonable betrayal of Crab Island.”
For his part, Guido Rossi, on behalf of Altro Mondo, expressed delight to be associated with the event, saying at the foundation, they believe that there is another world that exists and which needs ‘our genuine support and solidarity as members of the same humanity.’
The NGO, he added, is committed to the partnership with Crab Island Foundation and that they will endeavour to foster sustainable and mutually beneficial relations between not only the two organisations but also the people of Italy and The Gambia.
Rossi indicated that they had for a very long time been supporting Gambians with donations and that one of their friends even adopted a child from the Bakoteh Shelter, Fatou Badalugo, thirteen years ago and is now an Italian citizen and doing very well in her education.
Christina Crippa, lecturer at the University of Bergamo and a member of the delegation, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome accorded them in the country.
Inspiring the students, Pa Samba Jow, a US based Gambian, made reference to Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous statement that there are two most pertinent questions to ask.
“The first question he asked is ‘what are you doing for others?’ and I think Hon. Sillah with this Crab Island initiative and ‘our friends from Italy have answered that question.”
He equally informed students that what Dr. King said for them to pay attention to is that “an individual has not started living until he/she can rise above the narrow confines of his/her individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity.”
On the importance of skills, Mr. Jow said he is who he is today thanks to skills, as his father was a welder, who operated a workshop near the Albert Market in Banjul and through which he supported the upbringing and education of all his children.
He, however, noted that it was unfortunate that ‘we live in a society that does not give skills which builds up our country with the value it deserves’, saying the most influential and richest people in the world today are not PhD holders but skills persons.
Welcoming the gathering, Matarr John, Director of Crab Island TVET Centre, disclosed that before the Altro Mondo visitors embarked on their trip to The Gambia, they first asked the Centre to list down their needs which was done.
“The tools, materials and equipment that you see here were requested by us as part of the items that we need,” said Mr. John.
In a similar event held earlier, Altro Mondo also donated baby food items worth about D35, 000 (Thirty Five Thousand dalasis) and toys to the Shelter for Children and Home For Children in Bakoteh.
The donation was received on behalf of the Centre by Mrs. Jean D'arc Danty Keni Beyai, Acting Shelter Manager.
The Italian visitors were accompanied by Mr. Sheikh Njie and Hon. Ousman Sillah, who was also former the Chairperson of the National Assembly Select Committee on Health, Women, Children, Disaster, Humanitarian Relief and Refugees, which had oversight responsibility for the Bakoteh Children Shelter.
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