The Orphan and Families Committee of Qatar, through their sister partners the Umul Qura Foundation in the Gambia on Sunday the 21 September 2008, handed over food  basket valued over) fifty thousand dalasi (D50,000.00 ) to two hundred and five orphans   (205 )  , male and female at the Umul Qura Foundation head office Faji Kunda, the Gambia.

This Programme is only possible with the support of the Sheikh Eid Bin Muhammad Al-Thani, a charitable foundation in the gulf state of Qatar This charitable foundation which is based in Qatar, provide maintenance for  children who lost their male parents, ultimately who’s bringing up is left with a single parent (mother). The foundation on a yearly basis gives some money to the Umul Qura foundation for on ward transmission to the beneficiaries. This year an amount of D50, 000 is given for the welfare of the children.

I n a handing over ceremony at the foundation’s office, Mr. Sheikh Ousman.Jah, one of the committee members of the Umul Qura Foundation told the children, each of who was accompanied by their mothers, that  a sum of fifty thousand dalasi is allocated for them as food basket. In the basket he said are e dates, rice, juice, cooking oil, and other food items. Jah told both the children and their mothers that it is the responsibility of the surviving parents to take good care of the children they are left with. But in most cases this is not an easy task and that is why his organization in partnership with the Orphans and Families committee in Qatar are providing this token. He hopes the items will be put into best use.

The children were informed that some monies were approved for the provision of school uniforms, and bags. This they were told will arrive in two weeks times. The parents were also informed that NUR Den Islamic School, which also serves as head office of the foundation, has started registration of new in takes, and that those who intend to get their kids register can do so.

Sohna Mariama Jobe, who is one of the single parents, whose children like others benefits from the food basket, told the authorities that on behalf of the others, she is thanking the providers. She also extends greetings to the providers of this food basket.

She expressed joy , that though they have lost the fathers of their children, but such organizations , like the Orphan and Families Committee, and the Umul Qura Foundation, really made them happy and forget the  hardship they under went soon after the death of their husbands. She prays that Allah reward the people behind these great organizations.

 Alhagie Mustapha Cham, the President of the Umul Qura Foundation chaired the occasion, whilst the school director Shirkh Jogan, handed the food basket to the beneficiaries.

The Ummul Qura Foundation on Sunday the 31 August 2008 certificated 150 orphans. Who took part in a month long training during the summer holidays. The training took place at the Foundation’s school grounds at Latrikunda Sabiji. These 150 are among 205 orphans that the Foundation is sponsoring.

Delivering his speech on the occasion Sheikh Tjan Jonga, who is the course director, told parents that the month long Programme is only possible with the support of the Sheikh Eid Bin Muhammad Al-Thani, a charitable foundation in the gulf state of Qatar.

The course director inform the gathering that this year’s course took a different format, apart from the normal classes , in which children were taught the quran, and other teachings of the Islam, these  students also had conferences with some very knowledgeable people . Our President of the Ummul Qura Foundation and Dr. Mohammed Jah were among such facilitators.

Alhagie Mustapha Cham, president of the Foundation commended the sponsors in Qatar, and said if it were not their support; the training would not have taken place. He promised that his foundation shall never stop assisting the orphans;   they at the foundation are only following the teachings of the prophet.

Isatou Jammeh, who deputized for the director of Social Welfare department, Fanta Sisay said for them at the social welfare department, for them at the department, the welfare of the children, particularly the less fortunate ones, like the orphans who have lost one of their parents is their big concern. She talked about the extended family system which she said has a very important social factor and links, therefore we should stick to it

This is a system where the uncle can step in for a father or a nephew can equally do so for a brother. The gaps are easily filled. She said this is an important link but is now fading away.

She stress the need to assist other children whom she said also needed help. Isatou said the word is chaining and a lot more of things are changed equally. She said the number of vulnerable children and orphans are on the increased which posses a great concern to her government. She calls on the private sector and NGOs to put in their hands together in order to control this situation.

She reminded the gathering that orphans are to be taken care off, since prophet Muhammad himself was an orphan and other people took care of him.

The occasion was graced by the presence of the Imam Ratib of the Gambia, Alhagie Alieu Mass Kah who delivered the opening prayers. Certificates were given to 10 top students of the course. The top 10 was a female Mam Jara Muhammed Jah. Lectures and sponsors were also given certificates of appreciation.

The Paper Recycling Skills Project (PRSP), a charitable non-governmental organisation in Faji-Kunda, is currently embarking on a waste management programme by collecting waste papers dumped on the streets and recycling them to make exercise books and bricks.

In an interview with the Daily Observer on Wednesday, Mr George Riegg, vice chairperson of the project, said PRSP was formed in 2001 with the aim of making exercise books, bricks, greeting cards and writing papers as valued added products from recycled wasted papers to buy school items like books, pens and pencils for schools across the country.

The project, according to Vice Chairman Riegg, is to help promote a clean and healthy environment to reduce health hazards.  “We collect dumped papers and put them to good use,” he explained.

Mr  Riegg also noted that the PRSP is trying to offer a twenty-four week training programme for early childhood development specialists.

This training would include turning waste papers into toys and giving them back to their pupils in school.  “Whatever we do, we try to involve educational aspects because the more we educate people on waste management, the better,”  he noted.

Mr Riegg added that they also intend to have exchange programmes with foreign universities and colleges in making drums so as to promote Gambian culture.

Mr Riegg finally noted that the PRSP is not without constraints, as they need funds to be able to undertake further ventures.  “We need a solar plant for electricity,” he concluded.

The Gambia has a high population of 63,000 orphans, the causes of which are due to several factors ranging from poverty and other preventable diseases, like HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. Reliable reports indicated that 44 million in 34 developing countries are likely to lose a parent in the next years to come thus leaving them to become orphans.

Ummul Qura Foundation a charitable organization started its operations some 14 years ago in the Gambia. As   part of its activities of sponsoring orphans, the Ummul Qura Foundation for Islamic Studies and Research began its second Islamic studies course on August the 2^nd 2008 at its headquarters in Faji kunda in the KMC municipality. A total of 150 orphans are participating in a one month long summer classes.

 This shows that apart from helping the orphans with clothing and money they are also into offering some other form of social services by educating the orphans, said Abubacarr Mohammed Loum chairman of the occasion and vice president of the project.

Speaking at the start of the course Sheikh Mohammed Jonga the course director   indicated that the course is sponsored by the orphans committee of Sheikh Eid Bin Muhammad Al-Thani Charity Association, a charitable organization, based in the Gulf state of Qatar. He said a similar course is done in sixteen other countries in Africa, Asia and Europe simultaneously, and 27 Islamic organizations of which his organization is one of them are conducting the courses. A total of up 3700 orphans altogether are benefiting from such a course worldwide .Jonga told the gathering.

The President of the Foundation Alhagie Mustapha Cham said the foundation is currently sporting 205 orphans. This number rose over the last 14 years from 35 orphans to 205 today. He informed the meeting that, they still have more than 200 applicants who are yet to be sponsored.  Cham said we are not only in the business of giving out hand out but also trying to educate these orphans in their religion.

Ms Fanta Sisay director of Social Welfare who is also the guest speaker inform the gathering that The Gambia has up to 63,000 orphans. She implore the foundation to do more in also sensitizing the donors who are only concern with children whose father are dead but the ones whose mother’s too die need assistance. She calls on the religious leaders and elders of our communities to help in preaching our children to have respect for our religion and cultures as our homes are getting out of orders.

Other speakers included The President of the Gambia Supreme Islamic council Alhagie Cherno banding Drammeh and his vice Dr. Jah, all of who call for discipline and respect for our culture and religion.

                                                                                                        Mariama Ceesay

The St. Charles Catholic Church at Fajikunda named their Mr. and Miss of their church. This is the first of its kind in the country although Fr. Francis Eyo had earlier on organised it at Brikama when he was there. This he said followed the government’s organising Miss Black USA followed by lots of other organizations’ organising a similar thing. The Mr. and Miss St. Charles competition geared towards the development of the youth points out the good in all the participants. In the competition no one is a looser because every body is equal before God. The participants were drawn from the different church groups; Charismatic, Youth group, Senior and Junior Choirs. They all looked elegant and proud to show their talents and spoke as if they were all from the University of The Gambia. Let us see what happened in all as we see a boy and girl emerge Mr. and Miss of St. Charles.

Eustace Cassell, the Parish Pastoral Chairman in his declaration of the programme open, said “We don’t have a room full of people but we appreciate those present. We are motivating them to become models. At the Diocesan Assembly we promised the Church that St. Charles Lwanga would be the model of the churches in The Gambia. Let us support our youth, go and tell those who are not here, tell them what is here today.”

Africell, their sole sponsor represented by Mr. Kutobo the Assistant Customer Care Manager of Africell, said “You are the life blood of Africell. “ He reiterated that his company has changed the lives of many. “We are the first in everything. WE are the first to give Million, a car, and we brought easy communication to your doorsteps, making it simple and cheap. SIM Card was 500 Dalasis but we brought it down to nothing and queuing for SIM stopped drastically, everyone is a winner with Africell. There are more in the offing.

Fr. Francis Eyo MSP says, “This is a special night for all of us. If people knew what it is all about they would run to come and be part of it. People only know that Christians go to church on Sundays and Muslims go to Mosque on Fridays.  But this has a social element, we relax, interact and show our talents. Our patron saint preferred to die for their faith. We understand youth problems, and we want them to become good models, one day at a time.

The competition was based on speaking and expressing themselves, dressing to church and dressing to go to work. At the end lots of questions were asked. Those on the floor say they were cheap questions.

Therese Njie was crowned Miss St. Charles with 1366 points and Michael Mendy named Mr. St. Charles with 1308 points. The night continued with music and dance.

The programme was organised by the St. Charles Lectors in collaboration with their parish priest.

The judges included Mrs. Emily Gomez, Mrs. Martin Ndure, Mrs. Anna Cassell and Austin Kanjia, from St. Therese’s parish.

The house of the campaign manager for APRC in the Kanifing municipality was reportedly set on fire by unknown arsonists, this paper can authoritatively report.

According to news reaching this paper, Mr. Momodou Turo Darboe’s house in Faji Kunda was on Saturday night attacked by unidentified assailants who set the house on fire before taking flight in a waiting taxi.

When contacted by this reporter, Mr. Darboe narrated that the attack was launched at exactly 4am when he returned from the campaign trail and his office where he was trying to finish arrears of work.

“As I arrived home, I found a taxi stationed at the gate and someone was emerging from the compound at the same time. After parking my car, I realized that the house was on fire,” added Mr. Darboe.

According to Mr. Darboe, the alleged arsonists used petrol and candle to set the house on fire but that it was put off as a result of the intervention of ‘good’ neighbors.

Meanwhile, the police have recovered a vessel, containing petrol as well as candle and lighter at the scene.

The Majority leader, Fabakary Tombong Jaata, and APRC Mayoral aspirant, Yankuba Colley, were among a number of people that visited the scene of the incident yesterday.

Meanwhile, the extent of the damage caused by the fire could not be assessed as we go to press but the electricity metre was burnt beyond recognition. 

In their quest to help needy Muslims, IHH Insani Yardim Vakfi, a foundation for human rights, freedoms and humanitarian relief based in Turkey recently slaughtered two sheep and distributed the meat to needy Muslims in Faji Kunda.

The program was held at the Faji Kunda Central Mosque and is part of the organizations 2007 KURUBAN programme in The Gambia.

Speaking to The Point, one Ba Seyaka, a beneficiary, thanked the donors for the gesture while appealing to them to do the programme annually. He called on other organizations to emulate the gesture.

Meanwhile, The Point has been informed that similar gestures are been made by the organization in 111 countries world wide during the Eid-Al-Adha.

Faji Kunda-based business tycoon and CEO of Vision Development Foundation (VDF), Mr. Modou Turo Darboe, on Tuesday donated a total of 227 rams to needy Muslims across the country. The gesture, an annual one largesse, is geared towards helping needy Muslims to meet the most important rite of the annual Muslim feast.

Speaking during the handing over of the rams, held at Abuko, Mr. Darboe, who is also the proprietor of Joko Trading, said that the donation is his modest contribution towards helping the poor and the needy to have a memorable feast.

According to him, the gesture is also in accordance with the Islamic teaching for Muslims to share and care for each other, particularly in times of need.

Speaking earlier, Modou Manta Jallow, the project coordinator of VDF, said that this is not the first time that Modou Darboe is extending a hand of support to the less fortunate in society. He added that for the past 15 years Mr. Darboe has been giving rams to Muslims for the Tobaski sacrifice. “As a Muslim we are obliged to help one another.” He went on to describe Mr. Darboe as a generous Muslim and urged other well-to-do business people to emulate him.

Yankuba Colley, former acting Mayor of KMC, who was among the beneficiaries, hailed Mr. Darboe for the benevolent gesture. He described Mr. Darboe as a wonderful person who is contributing tremendously towards reducing poverty in the country.