A Gambian-based German charity foundation, Shine Light In Girls’ Education [SLIGE], has donated school materials to 44 girls, who will each received a daily stipend and a package containing different school items.
The items for each students included a school bag, 2 sets of uniforms, a pair of shoes, a set-box, calculator, textbooks, notebooks, pen, pencil, and so on.
Two of the beneficiaries expressed delights when received the items and said it would help their pursuit of education.
“It will help me because sometimes, when I want to read, I will not have textbooks to read. But I can read now because I have some textbooks to read. I am very happy,” Amie Manga, 16 said.
Amiana Jiblam, 15 students of Charles Jaw Memorial Academy expressed: “I am so happy. It would really help my education, because I did not have this before. I am thanking them [SLIGE] for giving all these things to me and other students, too.”
The parents of the beneficiaries and officials of the foundation attended the presentation of the packages to the students.
EbrimaNjies Fadera, President of Shine Light In Girls Education, Gambia chapter, recognised the role girls play in community development.
“There can be no efficient and sustainable development in any community without the concerted effort and involvement of girls and women. Their participation is core and central to any modern development initiative. With cooperation, coordination and support of girls and women, their contribution can make tremendous achievements that will impact their lives and their communities at large,” he said.
He assured that his foundation would not only provide support for the girl child, but would also enlighten their parents on the importance of girls’ education.
“And we need to ensure that once they are educated, young women can join the workforces and support their families because that’s how they will persuade parents that education is a better investment than forcing their daughters to early marriage or conscient them on household labour,” Njie said.
Shine Light In Girls Education is a charitable foundation that promotes and encourages the enrolment of girls at school in The Gambia. The Foundation established in 2020 supported six girls in the same manner.