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From Charity to Dignity

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Senait Bazei, 27, was begging at a mini-bus terminals along Summit Street across from the Technical and Vocational School by the Federal Police Commission Headquarters on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 19, 2008.

Source: http://www.addisfortune.com/From Charity to Dignity.htm

Ban Ki-Moon on poverty eradication and rural women

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:22:31 GMT

Thursday, October 16, 2008

On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, celebrated yesterday, the United Nations secretary general made a vibrant statement reiterating his organisation’s commitment to eradicate poverty from the face of the world. The day is centred on the theme "Human Rights and the Dignity of People Living in Poverty".

According to the UN boss, this year’s International Day recalls the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago. ‘‘The declaration affirms that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family," he noted.

Conscious of the fact that the phenomenon is becoming a veritable menace, he indicated that sixty years on, hundreds of millions of people are still deprived of basic human rights such as food, housing, education and decent working conditions. ‘‘Those forced to live in poverty often face social exclusion, discrimination and disempowerment. Poverty robs the poor of their human dignity" he said.

Resolutely decided to tackle the issue, the UN secretary general said that efforts utilised to eradicate poverty must pay close attention to respect for human rights and the dignity of all. ‘‘They must go beyond basic material needs and address discrimination and inequality. That means ensuring that all poor people have access to the resources they need - land, capital, knowledge and skills - to escape poverty. It means empowering the poor to effectively participate in decision-making and other activities that directly affect their lives," he emphasised.

In the light of rising food and fuel prices, he said ‘‘current economic uncertainties make this task even more challenging".

‘‘An estimated 100 million people are now at risk of falling into poverty,’’ he warned.

Ban Ki-Moon seized the opportunity to recall that last September, governments reconfirmed their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. ‘‘Many pledged new resources to bolster food security, eradicate disease, ensure access to water and sanitation and manage the financial crisis. These commitments are not a matter of charity, but an obligation in the pursuit of human rights for all. If we fail to keep our promise on the MDGs, we create the conditions for greater misery and global insecurity," the UN boss went on.

The UN boss released a similar statement on the first observance of the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, 2008. ‘‘I welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to the valuable contributions made by rural women, including indigenous women, to agriculture and development,’’ he solemnly stated.

He went on to say that the first International Day of Rural Women is especially timely, as it comes in the midst of a world food crisis and global financial turmoil, and on the eve of World Food Day.

In acknowledging the outstanding contribution of rural women in developmental efforts, he noted that they produce more than half of the world’s food and provide immeasurable support to local communities. But he was quick to say that despite the life-saving role they play, these women are seldom adequately appreciated or compensated. ‘‘Women farmers in developing countries do most of the agricultural work, but they own just a tiny fraction of the land. Disproportionately poor and illiterate, they are rarely included in decision-making that affects their circumstances,’’ he said.

To remedy this situation, he outlined that the UN mission is to foster a world where the woman who farms is also a woman with educational opportunities, political access, and a voice at the negotiating table. ‘‘A woman with a market environment that favours a fair return on her investments of equipment, seeds and labour. A woman who benefits from the land, credit and new technologies that will increase production,’’ he emphasised.

He urged all countries to seize the opportunity they will have next month at the Conference on Financing for Development in Doha to put the needs of rural women at the top of the global agenda. ‘‘By making women active partners in addressing the world’s pressing food crisis, we can do much more than solve the immediate problem; we can pave the way for a more secure global future,’’ he concluded.

Author: DO

40 days charity

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:23:44 GMT

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Family of the late John Maxwell and Late Patience Riley. The entire Riley and Maxwell , the Macmason family, Monday family, Carey family and Loum family in The Gambia and Abroad wishes to announce the forty days charity of their mother, aunty, and grandmother,

AGI FATOUMATTA MAXWELL

(fondly called BABY HANNAH)

who died on 7th September 2008 at Brusubi. The Fourty Days Charity will take place on Thursday 16th October at 5:00pm at Brusubi Housing Estate near the Church or Market.

There will be recitation of Holy Quran on Thursday 16th at 5:00pm. Well-wishers and family members are hereby informed.

This announcement is extended to Imam Ratib of Banjul, Imam Tansir Gaye, the family of the late Imam Abdoulie Jobe, Alh. Ma- Ansu Nyang of Sirmang, the Sey family of Tiaoun, Alh. Amadou Bah and family of Kanifing Estate, Ebrima Loppy and family of Bundung, Daira Dina Supa Islam under the leadership of their Lady President, Director General and Staff of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Agie Betty Saine and Family of Kotu, Agi Nancy Waggeh and Family of Bakoteh and Mrs. Mammie Bett Maxwell and family of Picton Street.

RSVP: 9823711 and 9806903

40 days charity

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:17:29 GMT

Friday, August 08, 2008

The entire Marong & Giteh families
in Tobacco Road Banjul wish to inform
all relatives, friends and well wishers that the 40 Days Charity of
their husband, father grandfather

Afang Yaya Marong

Will take place on Sunday the 10th August 2008.
Recitation of Holy Quran will be held at his residence

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Author: DO

150 Orphans Under Goes Training At Ummul Qura Foundation School, Gambia.

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:50:56 GMT

Saturday, August 02, 2008

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

Author: Madi M.K.Ceesay

Source: Meeting

Saturday: Ride For Life

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:39:22 GMT

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort and Spa on behalf of UNICEF will on Saturday organise a charity drive fundraising event called Ride For Life at 09.00 a.m. at the traffic lights of Kairaba Avenue.

According to reports from Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort and Spa, Riders are permitted to start-off at Senegambia junction and all child participants can start-off at Brufut Round-about. Reports also dicclose that there will be assistance at all points.

Refreshment stands, reports add, will be posted along the route to quench the riders’ thirst. The organisers assure participants that police escorts will be provided at all points by the Gambia Police and medical emergency personnel.

“To all companies and individuals that have been approached for sponsorship, we would like to remind you that we are all partners in our goal to offer a beacon of hope to the vulnerable, disenchanted and disenfranchised children of the world. Together, we can say "NO!" to poverty and change lives.

The Gambia as a nation has benefited from proceeds of Sheraton Group Hotels fundraising campaigns and Check Out For Children activities long before the opening of Sheraton Gambia. As conscientious and caring citizens, we now have the opportunity to experience that glow of pride and feel especially proud of our own personal contributions towards UNICEF programs.

As your partners, we are convinced that your generous support and unflinching endorsement of the Check Out for Children Challenge 2008 will guarantee a resounding success”.

Author: DO

GLOVE Charity Changing Lives of Sam Mbollet Villagers

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:34:28 GMT

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Gambian Longevity through Village Education (GLOVE), a charity registered in The Gambia in June last year, is significantly improving the lives of the villagers of Sam Mbullet in Lower Numi District in the North Bank Region.

The officials of the charity on Monday convened a press briefing at their office located at Tilly’s Tours in Kololi.

Speaking at the occasion, Madam Jackie Church, founder cum Project Director of GLOVE, recounted various ways the charity is helping to improve the lives of the rural poor people of Sam Mbullet a settlement of 700 people.

She said Tilly’s Tours is promoting tourism up country thus helping GLOVE achieve its objectives. Since its foundation less than a year ago the charity, through tourists coming to the Tilly’s Tours, has managed to donate educational materials, medical items, vegetable seeds, cloths, a community centre, 153 treated mosquito bed nets, sponsorship for 28 children, chlorinating wells and a number of footballs. “This shows you how much tourism can be used to alleviate poverty in The Gambia,” she stressed. She said that they have established a GLOVE development committee in the village in which all four tribes, men and women are represented equally.

This community, she said, lacks so many basic social amenities such as clean drinking water and a health facility just to name a few.

According to her, their focus now is on long-term agriculture through micro irrigation, small-scale enterprise development including tie and dye and soap making to enable the village to become self-sufficient.

Cognisant of the significance of farming in The Gambia GLOVE intends to work with engineers from the UK and the US to help the village with an irrigation system for the purpose of farming and to help compose fertilizer.

Madam Church emphasised that if all tour operators in the country are doing what Tilly’s Tours is doing more people in the rural areas will also benefit from tourism directly. She called on the people to support Tilly’s Tours in whatever way they can to enable them continue helping more people.

As part of the occasion, Mrs. Esther Shortt presented cash amounting to £500, funds she collected back in the UK, to the charity.

The occasion was attended, by Mrs. Linda Copson, Mr. Justin Edmonds, and Mrs. Linde Edmonds all GLOVE volunteers from the UK.

Mr. Abdoulie Corr, Deputy Director Tilly’s Tours and Treasurer of GLOVE, said that they also plan to expand their support to other communities in the country. Also present at the occasion were staff of Tilly’s Tours.

Author: By Nfamara Jawneh

Source: Picture: GLOVE Charity Presenting

Special Koranic prayers for Jammeh

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:15:26 GMT

Friday, April 04, 2008

The joint Mawlud Nabi committees of the Independence Drive and King Fahad Mosques, under the chairmanship of the Imam Ratib of Banjul, Alhagie Chernor Alieu Mass Kah will tomorrow, Saturday April 5th, 2008 hold a special Koranic prayers dedicated to President Alhaji Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh.

A dispatch send to the Daily Observer indicated that the Koranic prayers which is part of this year’s Mawlud Nabi (Gamo) celebration, will be dedicated to the Gambian leader in appreciation of his generous gesture to the committee by donating three large bulls during the eve of the Mawlud Nabi.

The media release further stated that the event will take place at the independence Drive Mosque on Saturday 5th April at 10.30am to be followed with meat charity.

Author: by Alhagie Jobe

CAR: Charity suspends mobile clinic in northeastern province

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:07:45 GMT

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has suspended mobile clinic activities outside the main towns in northeastern Central African Republic's (CAR) Vakaga province, following the killing of a woman in one of its ambulances.

The shooting, the medical charity said, followed a series of attacks and threats against humanitarian organisations and health workers in the past months. The woman was killed when an unidentified gunman fired on the vehicle on 10 March, it added.

The death was the second in recent months involving MSF. In June 2007, an MSF aid worker, Elsa Serfass, was killed by rebel gunfire in the northwest, leading to a significant reduction of MSF operations.

"We are shocked and outraged that our patient's mother was shot," Nicole Henze, MSF head of mission in CAR, said. "Our ambulance was clearly targeted, making us reconsider our activities in remote areas and our presence in the country. All armed persons are obliged to respect humanitarian aid. This includes medical personnel and, above all, our patients."

MSF has been providing basic healthcare to populations in remote areas of CAR, as well as referral and access to secondary care in more serious cases. Its teams have been operational in Ouham-Pendé, Ouham and Nana-Grébizi areas.

According to aid workers, continuing violence in northern CAR has led to the displacement of at least 290,000 civilians since 2005 and the "complete decimation" of public infrastructure.

Source: IRIN

GPU Has Failed Gambian Journalists - Baboucarr Trawally

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:54:19 GMT

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Mr Baboucarr S. Trawally, alias BT, the President of the Professional Photographers Association and a member of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), has indicated that the current executive of Gambia Press Union (GPU), has failed to bring about any progress in favour of Gambian media.

He expressed the view that holders of elective offices should be returned on account of their performance and, in his opinion, the current executive should not be returned into office if this criterion is applied.

Mr Trawally, who walked into our offices yesterday, maintained that most of the serving executive members have failed in their duties, while others are dormant. He therefore enjoined the membership of the union to make the right choice come the 22nd March congress.

“The Secretariat could not function effectively. No proper records of minutes and the general membership,” he stated.

“Among the role of the Executive Committee is to defend the freedom of the press and to promote unity among journalists and other media workers, through collective bargaining and the provision of welfare schemes.

“Its responsibility is also to seek training facilities and opportunities for members, both locally and abroad,” he said.

“Why should the current President establish Media Agenda without realizing that charity begins at home?” a discontented looking Mr Trawally queried.

Author: By Yai Dibba & Isatou Fatty

Source: The Point