By Amadou M Jadama
The newly constructed Helping Charity Lodge was on Saturday inaugurated in Fass Njagga Choi in Lower Nuimi District in the North Bank Region.
The Lodge was built by couple Chris and Margaret, through the Help for Education and Local Project in The Gambia at the cost of 6 million dalasi.
The Lodge has a conference, Bantaba and ambulance meant for both the Lodge and Fass Health Centre to cater for emergencies and referrals to major hospitals.
In his inaugural speech Sarjo Sarr national coordinator said the charity has numerous achievements in maintaining its records on proper service delivery to the education and health sectors of the Gambia.
“This is to complement the efforts of the Gambia Government in the attainment of free education for all and access to health facilities, he said.
“Helping Charity has sponsored over 400 students in The Gambia, these range from pre-primary to university. All the nursery teachers of the Charity were sent to Gambia College to do the ECD training now having all of them qualified as trained teachers.
“Our sponsored students are found in all sectors of development, be it banks, government offices and in the teaching field,” he added.
According to his statement, the Charity is managing four nursery schools namely, Fass Nursery, Osbome Nursery, Camen Nursery and Chessay Majaw Nursery which are fully funded by the charity. “Our partner schools in the North Bank are Pakau Njogu, Medina Serigne Mass, Fass, Kerr Malick Sarr, Kerr Bahoum, Chessay Majaw, Medina Manneh, Chamen and Touba Angalleh
“In 2014 the Charity also helped rebuild Fass Clinic, putting a new solar system and a fridge. In 2016, Fass and its 17 cluster villages initiated to build a standard labour in Fass clinic to help cater for more deliveries,” he noted.
He said the charity is currently employing 29 Gambians who are all paid on a monthly basis, and hoping to send more teachers to the College.
“As we officially open the Helping Charity Lodge here in Fass, the Charity will continue supporting local projects to maintain the services they are rendering to the unprivileged people,” he said.
Sarr further stated that the Lodge will be able to cater 30 participants at one time. According to him all proceeds from the Lodge will support in the sustainability of projects initiated by the Charity and the communities.
For his part, Ebrima Dampha the Governor of North Bank Region applauded Helping Charity for their interventions. He assured them of his support and that of the government.
“There is no more fear in this new Gambia and we now have pure democracy and I want to assure all outsiders that you are all welcome to the Gambia; our doors are open to all,” he said, adding that the Charity’s support to the country cannot be counted.
Lamin Camara, board chair for Helping Charity who doubles as deputy permanant secretary Ministry of Finance, said: “This Charity has been intervening in education for quite a long time now, from nursery to university. They are not only supporting the education sector but they are also supporting the health sector. We know education and health are priority of the Government.”
Chris and Margaret, the sponsors, commended President Barrow for the support. They promised their continuous assistance.
