By Alagie Manneh
A foundation set up to promote entrepereurship through visual arts has reached out to donate three disabled Gambians with various food items.
Adonai Art Foundation The Gambia, Afag, donated bags of rice, onions, sugar, liters of oil and an undisclosed amount of cash to the three women drawn from the Kanifing Municipal Council, KMC areas.
Its founder Dr Olumide Oludare Egunlae, said the donation was in line with the foundation’s “paramount goal” of contributing in the national development initiatives and poverty alleviation through arts he insists, “would help the very poor achieve a better quality of lives, [and] enable the largest number of people to get above the poverty line.”
Speaking further during the presentation of food items to the beneficiaries last Saturday, Olumide said Afag will work through sales and donations of its art works from member artists in helping “improve people’s lives by creating conditions and chances” for the future.
He said: “We believe that there is need to break away from the old ideology, concept and philosophy that only the government has the power to change lives. In view of this… [we will] join government by contributing our little quota in sustaining our local people and the less privilege, using our talents, producing and selling or donating our art and craft works to raise funds for poverty alleviation.”
Dr Olumide said since the founding of the foundation in 2012, numerous achievements have been registered.
“We have a scholarship for best students in vocational subjects. We always embark on distribution of seeds, fertilisers and cash to women and widow farmers, the provision of foods and clothing for the widows and their kids.”
He also explained how the foundation’s ‘free training and workshops for street kids and secondary schools students have shaped ‘precarious’ lives.
The members of the non-profit foundation are from 16 countries including The Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and the United Kingdom.
They specialised in painting, sculpture, textiles, graphics, we design and others.
“These talented artists have been so selfless and work day and night in their various fields in our outdoor studio,” Olumide raves.
He also used the opportunity to thank sponsors of Afag Mama Gina, and Ms Eurmie Kamerling from Holland, Ms Rebecca Monaghan from Sweden and Rotarian Ousman Sowe.
