By Omar Bah
The Brikama Association in Bronx, United States, has recently donated 40 bags of rice to the flood victims in Brikama.
The donation ceremony, which was held at the regional disaster management office in Brikama, is was among many interventions that the philanthropist association is offering in Brikama and West Coast Region.
Speaking shortly before presenting the rice to the victims, the focal person in the Gambia Ebrima Cham said the association was established on 31 October 2015 as a non-profit organization in New York.
He said was formed as a charitable organization with the Federal Government of the United States.
The association, which has membership across seven states in the US and non-political, is growing and at the same time gaining more recognition both in the USA and The Gambia.
“The organization is aimed at supporting the people of Brikama and development efforts of the town by fully partnering with the community to make sure basic necessities are available to every individual irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation,” he said.
The association, he said is also committed to helping in the areas of education and health care delivery for the people of Brikama. “We will also endeavour to make sure that underprivileged children of Brikama have the tools they need to excel and succeed in school.
“We aware of the fact that all these cannot happen without the participation of everybody in Brikama; that is why we want to engage the community in this crusade,” he said.
On the donation, Cham said although it is not enough to cover for all the victims lost, it will help them in their short term plans.
The chief of Kombo Central District, Alhagie Jammeh K.K. Bojang, described the gesture as historic, saying supporting the affected families would in no doubt ease the feeding burden on them.
He commended the donors for their humanitarian support and love for their people.
Chief Jammeh further stated that the Government of the Gambia has been very committed in supporting the victims and this gesture from the citizens of Brikama based in USA will complement the efforts of the government.
Meanwhile, the regional disaster management coordinator Binta Sey Jadama thanked the donors on behalf of the victims.
She said the victims appreciated the support given them by the organisation, saying it would reduce burden on them since they have lost all their valuables during the floods.
