By Assan Bah
‘Ser Humano’, an International NGO, has completed repairs and improvements on water and electricity installations in four schools in The Gambia, with funding from the Department of International Solidarity of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria Island Council in Spain. The beneficiary schools are Adam’s Kids Nursery School; London Kids Kindergarten in London Corner; B. Sambou Nursery School in Tallinding, and Majlis Ibn Abas School in Banyaka.
Speaking on the works, Mr Francisco, Director of the NGO ‘Ser Humano’ in The Gambia, said his Organisation is committed to contribute and strengthen basic infrastructure for educational activities and to foster more suitable conditions for Gambian children. The initiative, he said, has the institutional support of Baboucarr Mansally, the Councillor of Tallinding North Ward in the Kanifing Municipality. Francisco said the repair works are aimed to improve and strengthen basic infrastructure to make teaching and learning more suitable for Gambian children.
“Through this project of repairing and installing electrical systems, drinking water and sewage systems in four schools, we aim to contribute towards making educational centres safer, healthier and more dignified for children,” Francisco said, adding: “We believe that guaranteeing access to basic services is fundamental to the health, well-being and future of the community. Because improving schools is also investing in the future of The Gambia.” He said the work focuses on repairing essential facilities for the daily operation of the schools, after recognizing the importance of access to water and electricity in maintaining functional and adequate educational spaces for students and teaching staff. He reaffirmed his NGO’s commitment to continue working on international cooperation initiatives that promote community well-being, and expressed gratitude to the Gran Canaria Island Council and Councillor Mansally for their support.
On his part, Councillor Baboucarr Mansally expressed appreciation to the NGO and the Gran Canaria Island Council for supporting the initiative.
“Water and electricity are not luxuries in our schools. They are essential services that contribute to a safe, healthy and conducive learning environment. By investing in these essential facilities, we are investing in the future of our children and the development of our nation,” Councillor Mansally said. He noted that education is a shared responsibility and called on school authorities and communities to maintain the facilities and to ensure they serve the students for many years to come. He also encouraged other development partners to continue supporting such initiatives that strengthen education, health and sanitation for schools.
“As a Councillor, I strongly believe that education is a shared responsibility. Government institutions, local authorities, development partners, school administrators, parents and communities, all have important roles to play in ensuring that ‘our’ children receive the quality education they deserve,” Councillor Mansally said, while assuring his commitment to support such initiatives that promote community development and improve the lives of the Gambian people. Meanwhile, beneficiary schools also expressed gratitude for the intervention of the NGO in improving the situation in their schools.
Ida Faal, the headmistress of London Kids Kindergarten in London Corner, said the provision of a borehole and electricity has ended water shortages that previously forced the school to send children home.
“At times, the water pump will go off and there will be no water. Most schools around will send their kids home when this happens. Now that we have the borehole, we no longer have that experience and we will have good quality and healthy water for our 49 nursery children,” she said. “We are very grateful and we appreciate the good things they have done for us because they make the educational system in London Kids Kindergarten very easy, healthy and affordable for children.’’
“The school solely depends on children’s school fees. If you can see the school, we need support because our roofing and some of the facilities are not enough, because the children are not many. We use what they are paying as school fees to pay the teachers. If you can see, the children are not many and we have to pay the teachers every month,’’ Ms. Faal said, while assuring her partners that the school will take good care of the facilities.
Mrs Badjie, the headmistress of Adam’s Kids Academy, said the Organization has supported her school on several occasions.
“They are really helpful. They helped the school by providing us with electricity and changing all the electric wiring systems, which was very bad. We also had electrical problems, but today, all this has been solved. They changed all the wires and made fans for every class and the office. They also provided us with a solar-powered borehole. We cannot live without water which has been our main problem,” she said. She described Councillor Mansally as a hardworking man with sympathy for Gambian children. She thanked him for connecting the schools to International partners for support like this.
“This day is a very joyful one for us, and we are saying a big thank you to Francisco and his team. They are helping Gambian kids a lot by providing them with stationery, learning material, water and electricity. So we are very grateful because many other people need this. But we are fortunate at this moment to have this,’’ she said.
Bakary Badjie, proprietor of the school, expressed gratitude to the Councilor and his partners and said it is because of them, that his school was renovated and provided with furniture from Spain, together with other learning materials, to make the school into a more conducive learning environment for both learners and teachers. “Now they have provided the school with electricity and a solar-powered borehole. Without water, we cannot survive. Therefore, the borehole is very important for us because we need uninterrupted water supply for the toilets.
Speaking on the provision of electricity, Mr. Badjie said classrooms used to be very hot; that installing ceiling-fans in classrooms is very important for everyone.
Sheikh Imam Drammeh of Banyaka Medinah, also expressed similar appreciation to their partners for renovating the school into a standard one, and for providing them with the needed facilities, saying the school needed such support.
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