By Juldeh Njie
All 4 Gambia, a non-profitable organization based in the UK, on Wednesday donated school materials and cooking items worth D10 thousand dalasi to Berending Basic Cycle School in lower Niumi District, in the North Bank Region.
The items included 60 exercise books, 30 pencils, bag of rice, cooking oil, bag of potato, a bag of onion, among other valuable items.
The organization according to organisers, aims to work towards the academic and emotional development of children in Africa by supporting schools and implementing sustainable development projects.
Speaking at the event, editor of the organisation, Seedy Marong emphasised the importance of the event, adding that it will go a long way in helping the poor and needy children in the school. He urged the school administration to spend the materials wisely to the benefit of the children.
“The reason why we came up with this Initiative is because we realize that most schools in the Gambia don’t have sufficient learning materials. That is why we came up with the donation not only to help but to serve as a source of motivation among students,” he noted.
He reaffirmed his organization’s full support of schools and challenged the beneficiaries to use the materials wisely and for its purpose.
Speaking earlier, the principal of the school, Ebrima M Njie, expressed delight and applauded the donors for their noble gesture, adding that this will help the school especially the poor and the needy ones.
“These materials will go a long way towards reducing the burden on poor parents who find it difficult to provide essential learning materials like exercise books, pencils etc, to their children”, he said.
The principal expressed optimism that the humanitarian assistance will continue because education is the most expensive enterprise and sometimes parents find it very difficult to cater for all the educational materials for their children.
“We are going to give these books to deserving students as the way of motivating the rest of the students to work harder,” he revealed.
He also highlighted the deplorable condition of the school. He promised to use the materials donated positively and for its purpose whiles appealing to the government and other private donors to come to their aid.
Tamsir Bittaye and Alagie Saine expressed similar sentiment.
