45 female students on Saturday 25 September 2021 received a donation of school materials and cash from Shine Light in girls education Germany-Gambia charitable organization. The presentation was held at Bottrop Kindergarten Nursery School in Brikama.

The beneficiaries each receive two sets of Uniforms, School Bag, School Shoe, exercise books, text books, Set-box, Pencils, pen, calculator, Dictionary, study fees and academic year lunch fees. The donation is geared towards enhancing girls’ education in the Gambia.

Speaking at the presentation, Ebrima Njie the President of Shine Light Germany -Gambia said their foundation’s primary responsibility is to promote and encourage girls enrolment into schools.

Mr Njie said his foundation will not only provide support for the girls education but they will also help parents through sensitizing them about the importance of educating girls.

“We need to ensure that girls are educated so that they can join the workforces and support their families,” Ebrima Njie said. “Parents should understand that education is a better investment and forcing their daughters to early marriage.”

Njie said they realize that there can be any sustainable development in a country without the concerted efforts and involvement of girls and women.

He added that the materials donated will support girls in their education and also it will reduce the burden on their parents.  

He said the beneficiaries were selected after a feasibility study conducted by Slige recruitment team in both rural and urban Gambia. “Currently, we have 5 girls in KMC, 27 girls in WCR and 12 girls in LRR with different schools and grades,” he explained.

“Shine light would do its utmost to help marginalised girls achieved and explore their potentials to enhance their participation in all form of social, economical, political and spiritual activity of the society,” Njie concluded.

For her part, Adama Jarju founder of Yakarr Football Academy, said girls education is significant and she commended shine light Germany -Gambia for supporting girls. She called on the beneficiaries to keep working hard as they have people who are willing to help them.

Miss Jarju also encourages girls to take part in sports. She thanked the donors for the timely gesture. Adding that the learning materials given to the students will also help them in improving their academic excellence.

She said the donation has come at a time when learning materials are very expensive and some parents cannot afford it all. Foday Fadera regional correspondence of shine light said girls are not given equal opportunities in education by most of the parents in the rural Gambia.

He said the foundation is here to enlighten girls’ education and also to sensitize parents on the importance of girls’ education. Fadera added in most communities boys are given more privileges in education than girls.

Sarata Ceesay, speaker of Children Assembly, said the donation is timely and it will help the girls in realizing their dreams in the academic world.

She emphasized the need for girls to be given equal opportunity in education.

Sarata said as a Children Assembly speaker, her job is to continue reminding the government of its commitment to ensure girls rights are fulfilled.

Amie Manga, a beneficiary also expressed her appreciation to shine light of the timely gesture adding that the donation will help then in their academic. She embraced the support from shining light. She called on her colleagues to keep working hard as they have people who are supporting them.

 

By Dawda Baldeh