Dinding Yiriwa Federation (DDYF), an affiliate of ChildFund International – The Gambia, on Wednesday donated sanitary products and educational materials to its sponsored children in Kombo South and Kombo North, West Coast Region.
The donation aims to promote quality early childhood education, good hygiene and improved living conditions for vulnerable children.
Federation Manager Alieu Mendy said DDYF presented assorted teaching and learning materials worth D766,300 to 16 centres, impacting 3,398 nursery school children. Sanitary materials worth D780,000 were also distributed.
The teaching materials include white chalk, coloured chalk, assorted flash cards, extra-large mats, assorted crayons and others.
The sanitary products include 1,000 packets of laundry soap, 1,000 bottles of bleach and 1,500 packets of Omo.
Mendy said the objective is to enhance early learning under the philosophy of “catch them young,” create a conducive, colourful and informative classroom environment for greater teacher-child interaction, and promote improved personal hygiene and a healthy environment for children.
“DDYF is calling on all aid agencies and individual philanthropists to support both morally and financially for us to reach out to more needy communities and individuals across the districts,” he said.
Hawa Sanneh, Chairperson of the Childhood Development Association of West Coast Region, said the materials help children develop physical, intellectual, social, emotional and language skills.
She added that drawing and colouring improve fine motor skills, while building blocks develop creativity and problem-solving.
“Group games and puzzles teach sharing, cooperation and teamwork. When children play with toys, draw, build or use locally available materials, they learn to think creatively, explore new ideas and find solutions to simple problems. These experiences prepare them for future learning, she said.
Board Chairman Omar Sanneh thanked the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and the ECD Association for collaboration and for ensuring the centres are recognised and supervised.
“We are complementing your efforts, not competing,” he said.
He urged head teachers, caregivers and mothers’ clubs to make best use of the materials, protect and maintain them.
“Let every child touch, play and learn. Let no material be locked in a cupboard to look new. A torn book because a child used it is better than a new book that no child ever touched,” Sanneh said.
He commended board members and staff.
“You have shown that an NGO with transparency and accountability can deliver real results to the doorstep of the needy.”
Lamin Dibba of NGO Affairs commended DDYF for contributing to human development.
