By: Haruna Kuyateh
ActionAid International The Gambia Juffureh Office on Saturday organised Thanksgiving Day for 43 Graduating Sponsorship students.
The event held in Juffureh of Upper Nuimi, North Bank Region is termed the first of its kind to be organised and it is anchored on ActionAid principles of promoting a human rights-based approach to development.
Kebba K Sonko, President of Hakalang Senela Kafo of Upper Nuimi thanked ActionAid for the support in promoting educational and community development initiatives in Upper Nuimi.
He disclosed that the graduating students are the first batch of the sponsorship programme and as a result, it has contributed to the transformation of communities and parents in working with the ActionAid Sponsorship scheme over the years.
Saikou Darboe Local Rights Program Manager (LRP) delivered a statement on the importance of thanksgiving day for sponsoring children.
He said the day was in conformity with ActionAid Sponsorship Policy in recognition of their valuable contribution in all spheres of ActionAid works.
He noted said graduating from the sponsorship scheme means a lot to the ActionAid Sponsorship programme, saying that the support transformed the lives of many.
He, therefore, called on graduating students to be goodwill Ambassadors of ActionAid in championing educational development and protection of children.
The sponsorship programme provides farm implements, development projects, and humanitarian assistance to uplift the lives of vulnerable families.
Alagie Camara ActionAid Sponsorship Manager dilated on the role of children in the child sponsorship programme and its impact on the development of children. The sponsorship scheme will contribute to the fight against injustice and poverty reduction.
He described ActionAid International sponsorship programme as unique and addresses the development needs of communities in the form of gardens, farm implements, advocacy, and others.
He also noted that the day is in recognition of their support of the program while he called on parents to be proactive and vigilant to allow sponsor children to stay in communities, which is in the best interest of communities and ActionAid.
Also, he challenged beneficiaries to support the development of the Community and Country.
Ndike Jallow, of Juffureh and Janaiba Darboe a student delivered the vote of thanks and expressed delight in the intervention of ActionAid Sponsorship programme.
The duo said the support was in the form of ĺearnìng materials, school bags, books, and community projects.
Some of the sponsored students are now tailors, painters, drivers, students of the school of nursing, University of the Gambia, and soldiers among others.
The program was punctuated with the presentation of certificates and musical entertainment.