By Juldeh Njie & Aminata S Kuyateh
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has on Monday received 53,610 pairs of shoes from Child Fund International the Gambia partnering with Toms.
The donation is meant for school children in LRR and CRR South to enhance retention in schools.
In his welcoming remarks, programs and sponsorship director, Nfamara Dabo, said the event is both important and timely, adding that Toms has been a very good partner for the past three years in providing shoes to help children.
He said Child Fund is interested in the holistic development of children and the donation has been helpful in the rainy season because the shoes are water-proof and they are of good quality.
Speaking earlier, Child Fund country director, Musu Kuta Komma, thanked partners like Toms, Pearson and others for the immense contribution towards the promotion of education for the past three years.
She said the institute as a child protection and development agency, will strive to tackle underlying causes of deprivation, exclusion and vulnerability.
“The two parties enjoy deeply –founded relationship for decades. Our joint collaboration IS significantly important for the development of children, who are the future leaders, and a progress of society”.
She further stressed that the shoes to a large extent came after a series of consultations and interactions between Child Fund and its partners to receive three 40-foot containers with over 53,000 pairs of shoes.
According to her the donation is geared towards complementing government’s efforts, as Child Fund and partners “are development–oriented in child protection and development”.
She reaffirmed that nothing is more important than children and with education they will be more enlightened and creative for the nation.
For her part, deputy permanent secretary, MoBSE, Hala Jaiteh, also expressed delight at the donation.
