Attending the dinner reception were representatives from the following organisations who the British Embassy has helped fund over the past two years – Riders For Health, National Centre for Arts and Culture, Conscience International, Concern Universal, Beecause, Young People In The Media, Female Lawyers Association of The Gambia (Flag), Child Protection Alliance, Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Programme (MhLap), Ageing with A Smile, West African Law Institute, TRY Oysters Women Association, Friends of Nature The Gambia and Prison Fellowship The Gambia.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Ambassador George Sherriff said: “We wanted to invite you here to recognise the contribution that each and every one of your organisations have made in the development of The Gambia in a wide variety of sectors ranging from health, child rights, livelihood development, women’s rights, culture, environment, the legal sector and education. I am proud that the British Embassy has been able to partner with your organisations over the past two years and I believe that together this partnership has delivered tremendous results particularly when compared to the modest amount of funding that we were able to provide. People are often surprised when they hear of the wide range of projects we have funded here in The Gambia.
“Personally I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each and every one of you, be it. Attending the opening session of our Flag project where the chief of defence staff and IGP along with a number of uniformed personnel were being sensitised on women’s rights; or planting a mahogany tree in Bijilo Park; or accompanying the member of the UK Parliament for Devizes as she officially opened the new Riders for Health training centre; or almost falling into the Gambia river as we climbed out of a Gambian naval boat into a pirogue to make our way to Fort Bullen for the opening of the new museum exhibition with the tourism minister.
“I have been thoroughly impressed by all your determination, passion and exhaustive efforts in the delivery of these projects. And in my last year in The Gambia I hope to be able to share many more of these experiences with you. Our partnership over these past two years and the success in what has been achieved is a testament to the strength of the relationship between the UK and the people of The Gambia.”
Photo competition
Meanwhile in a separate development, Deputy Ambassador Sherriff recently hosted a lunch for the winners of the ‘UK In The Gambia’ facebook photo competition.
Last year the UK Embassy asked its Facebook followers to send in photos they had taken that best represented The Gambia to them. The UK Embassy received hundreds of entries and the Deputy Ambassador and UK Embassy staff chose 7 eventual winners.
All of the winners received a framed copy of their photograph from the Deputy Ambassador in addition to receiving London 2012 Olympics collectible merchandise and UK assorted prizes. The deputy ambassador also took the winners to lunch.
In addition the winning photographs will also be displayed throughout the UK Embassy. The competition winners were – Emmanuel Akenuwa, Oussainou Bobb, Steve Guest, Lena Grey-Johnson, Ebrima Sise, Yusuuf Drammeh and Samba Bah. Congratulations to all.
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