The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS), in collaboration with the International Federation for Red Cross (IFRC), had on Monday, November 29, 2021 launched a 600,000 dalasi project on the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable children, at a ceremony held at GRCS Headquarters in Kanifing.
The project, according to officials, would be implemented in the Kanifing Municipality (KM) and North Bank Region (NBR), targeting children at GOVI School, St. John’s School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Gambia Organization for Visual Impaired (GOVI)–a national organization for the visually impaired people.
Aimed at providing protection and assistance to vulnerable children in the Gambia, the project seeks to cover three months’ costs of feeding for malnourished students in the NBR, and also cover three months’ costs of learning materials and transportation in the Kanifing Municipality. About one hundred children from the two regions (50 from each) are expected to be supported through the project, as per the information gathered.
The Secretary General (SG) of GRCS, Mr. Alasan Senghore told his audience the project is a continuation of their humanitarian assistance to persons vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic. He said GRCS is always committed to assisting vulnerable people of the society, and noted the assistance has gone beyond material assistance alone, but also kindheartedness and encouragement.
“We will put into consideration on the issues raised by the beneficiaries because training people on sign language is very important,” he promised.
Senghore thanked the International Federation Red cross for supporting GRCS in assisting children vulnerable to Covid-19.
Mr. Jatto Sillah, President of GRCS speaking at the launch ceremony, described the project as one of the most important initiatives by the humanitarian organization. Pointing out that the GRCS “is very interested with the future of the country”, Sillah added it, therefore, deems it necessary to support the children who would be people in charge of the country in future.
He thanked IFRC for the support, and the Gambia government for giving GRCS the enabling environment to work in the country.
Mr. Mohammed Omar Mukhier, IFRC Regional Director for Africa told the gathering: “IFRC has more than 190 members associations. We pay much attention to schools; for us, school is an important institution to spread the principles and values of Red Cross. It is an important institution to prepare the next generation of Red Cross leaders.”
Head of Sahel Cluster for IFRC, Daniel Balanos Gonzales said IFRS would continue to support the GRCS to provide services to the most vulnerable population of the Gambia, one of them being children. He reminded them of the oft-repeated adage that ‘children are the future leaders of the nation’.
Mr. Daniel J. Mendy, Principal of St. John’s School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing expressed gratitude to GRCS and partners for the gesture. He said the project would go a long way in helping the deaf and hard of hearing students.
Principal Mendy, however, used the opportunity to urge GRCS to train its staff and volunteers on sign languages to ensure they communicate with the deaf and hard of hearing people in case of any emergency.
[Sign language is a system of communication using visual gestures and signs, as used by deaf people]. Mendy also wants a school bus for his school in order to ease transportation of the students of St. John’s..
