By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Cemiyetul Hayr Relief Organization in conjunction with the International Humanitarian Help Organization- The Netherlands (IHHON)on Monday put smiles on the faces of 54 orphans at the Medina Salam village orphanage in the West Coast Region of The Gambia by donating to them new clothes and shoes barely a week before Muslims in The Gambia observe Id-Ul-Fitr.
The donation was part of the organizations’ 2025 Orphan Clothes Project and six orphaned girls and 48 boys have benefited from this latest intervention.
Speaking shortly after the distribution of the donated items, the Country Director of Cemiyetul Hayr Relief Organization, Musa Jallow, said that they have been offering clothes support to the orphans for the past 11 to 15 years.
“We built this orphanage here at Medina Salam and 48 orphaned children are currently living here. We are also looking after six orphaned girl-children. Today, we decided to put smiles on their faces by giving them clothes and shoes for the Koriteh, which is just around the corner. We also donated “cross-bags” to the orphaned girlchildren as you know how girlchildren are nowadays obsessed with “cross-bags” and they will feel depressed on Koriteh day if they don’t have any,” Mr. Jallow said.
He thanked the partners and donors for their support to the clothes and shoes initiative.
For his part, volunteer Enes Sariakçe of IHHON expressed excitement in returning to The Gambia for the second time to support the humanitarian efforts of his organization and its local partner.
Enes said he was in The Gambia five years ago as a volunteer, adding that he was thrilled to be back and rendering humanitarian assistance to the people, who need it most.
The organizations will touch the lives of more orphaned children today in the Central River Region.