By: Mariama Njie
Great Ambitious Muslimahs For Education and Modesty (GAMFEM) – The Gambia was officially launched on Friday, 25th December, 2020.
GAMFEM is a registered charitable Islamic association that seeks to promote Islamic teachings and the welfare of women and girls by empowering them within the Islamic domain.
The official launching of the association brought together some Islamic scholars, religious leaders and a cross section of people from the Greater Banjul Area.
Speaking at the official launching of the association, Oustadha Mariama Jallow, President of GAMFEM, said the whole idea of forming the association came from a sister abroad who prefers to remain anonymous.
She came forth with this brilliant idea of setting up an organization that will help to educate, provide financial support to those struggling to purchase modest clothing as well as strengthen the sisterhood bond amongst women and girls. All of this will be done in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah.
Ustadha Mariama pointed out GAMFEM’s three objectives: “Assist women and girls who are struggling to abide by proper Hijab as instructed by Allah but they do not really understand the purpose and how to go about it. Those who do not have the financial means will be provided free scarves, Jilbabs and, Prayer Gowns to enable them to observe cover up properly and observe the Hijab for the sake of Allah.
Conduct Da’ wah. “We will help sisters by educating them on the true teachings of the ‘Deen of Islam,” she stated.
Provide marriage counselling, which is not very common in The Gambia. “We thought it will really help in saving and fixing broken homes by opening a counselling office which will be run by religious leaders, scholars, and psycho-social therapy experts ,” she said.
Currently, the association is self-funded through the membership contributions (members in The Gambia and abroad). Funding is also generated through online donations as well as offline donations sent to our Agib account, she added.
Jainaba Fatty, Inventory Manager of GAMFEM echoed that the association has been registered since 22nd October, 2020 and currently has over 90 members, and growing daily. The launching of GAMFEM is an opportunity for Gambians to be aware of the existence of this important association, and for them to be familiar with the aims and objectives.
She urged women and girls across the country to come forward and register to be a member as GAMFEM is here for all Gambians, not just for those in the Greater Banjul Areas. The services of the association will cover all regions.
“We will raise funds to buy modest clothes for women and girls, organise classes for them as well,” she added.
Looking at the objective, she said they want to do a wider coverage by embarking on a sensitization tour to educate the women folk, she said.
Sainabou Ceesay, Public Relation Officer for GAMFEM, said they are a charitable organisation which will fight for the rights of women and girls in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah.
“Allah has blessed and helped us to an extent that most of our members are well versed in the Holy Qur’an and students of knowledge, too,” she expressed.
She therefore called on everyone to join GAMFEM and be a member “it is very easy to be a member all you have to do is to pay D50 dalasi at any AGIB Bank branch to the GAMFEM account.”
She extended call to anyone that ready or want to collaborate with them to come forward for the betterment of the community.
GAMFEM is an organization that will employ its assets and resources for the betterment of our whole community, especially the women folk, who are the backbones of families, and society.
