By Olimatou Coker
SOS Children’s Villages the Gambia, Sinchu Orphanage, Hart House and Shelter for Children on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding among the three institutions held at SOS national office in Bakoteh.
SOS Children’s Villages the Gambia is a social development NGO with a mission of building families for children in need (those who have lost parental care and those at risk of losing it). They help children shape their own future and share in the development of their communities.
Strategically SOS Children’s Villages the Gambia has championed series of child rights and child protection issues in the Gambia.
Mariatou Sallah, national director SOS Children’s Village, said in 2015 the Village held a 3-day national forum on quality care for children in the alternative care system. She said during the forum, participants came up with recommendations and one of them was for the four care institutions to come together and have a working memorandum of understanding for the propose of supporting one another to ensure quality care for children and young people under their care.
“As we are signing this memorandum of understanding, I hope it will strengthen our partnership in coming years as will be jointly implemented by all in support of government’s drive to secure Social Protection for all children,” she said.
Beatrice Mendy, a student of SOS LBS, gave a brief background of the three institutions.
For her part Aminata Sessay, Sinchu Orphanage manager, said the MoU is a big step in the right direction.
She added that their main goal is the life of the child as they are not working with elders but working with children only who are less privilege.
Geoff Hunwicks, the proprietor of Hart House also spoke at the event; expressing appreciation to the SOS Children’s Village management for coming up with this initiative to partner with them in this development process.
Geoff therefore challenged the 4 institutions that signed the MoU to take it seriously and work hard to achieve their aims and objectives for the children.
Also speaking at the signing ceremony, Omar Bojang, the manager Shelter for Children, expressed gratitude as partners to sign the MoU, noting that it will strengthen their close collaboration and work together.
