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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 28 Mar 2007 : 18:08:26
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UTG RECEIVE 15,000 BOOK DONATION
By Isatou Bittaye
The Foundation for West Africa and Sabre Foundation have donated 15,262 books to the University of The Gambia (UTG). The donation came through the Gambia Women Finance Association (GAWFA) and it was presented to the UTG on Wednesday 21st March 2007.The books are said to cost $809,820.
In her opening remarks, the chairperson of GAWFA, Mrs. Hannah Davies said the Foundation for West Africa has the vision to assist in the recovery and development of countries, and its work focuses on supporting and financing grassroots efforts in the areas of Education, Health and Communication.
Mrs. Davies indicated that TFWA develops partnerships and collaborates with local non-governmental organisations and supports their work by providing finance for the projects they work on within their three areas of focus.
She added that the donation is a non-governmental initiative comprising the Foundation for West Africa, Sabre Foundation and GAWFA which are non-governmental organisations and are supported by members of the Gambian community in Rhode Island, USA, to raise awareness and mobilize support for the initiative.
Mrs. Davies noted that the books should benefit students by ensuring that they continue to be accessible to them and that they are not for sale. She added that the sale of the books will violate their understanding and agreement with the Sabre Foundation through which they got the books and will jeopardize any possible future book donation project they may want to embark on even with other partners. Mrs. Davies indicated that they are suggesting for the creation of a small committee with representatives from GAWFA, the University, the Medical School and the Foundation for West Africa for the effective management and the distribution of the books.
Mrs. Davies further said that the donation has come as a timely intervention, during a period of growth of the student population in the university and that the university is challenged to establish a bigger library or libraries even before the new university campus is built. She added that the university is urged to share the books with other institutions of higher learning in the country, noting that the sharing of learning resources will also complement our national efforts in achieving quality education.
Mrs. Davies said that GAWFA is a micro-finance institution whose mission is to serve as a financial intermediary to enhance the entrepreneurship development of women as a means of alleviating their poverty.
She added that GAWFA also serves as a vehicle for mainstreaming women in National development processes and operates in 18 regions in the country and has a portfolio of 40 thousand women who are engaged in various micro-enterprise ventures.
UTG chair of International Affairs and Information, Gumbo Ali Touray, said that books will lead them to achieve knowledge. Mr. Touray added that the arrival of the books for UTG is timely and that it will help both students and staff. He assured that UTG will put the books into good use.
He added that the partnership between UTG and GAWFA will continue.
Deputizing for the SOS for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Saidou Jallow said that the books lead us to literacy, virtue, as well as, the knowledge we seek in the global drive to attain education for all, noting that accessibility to education by the poor seems the only obvious means of meeting the challenges of development. Mr. Jallow noted that the arrival 0f the 40ft container of new books for that matter is timely and useful. He added that the donation will offer valuable help to students on their various study programmes.
Mr. Jallow expressed appreciation to TFWA and GAWFA.
Mrs. Philomina Sarr from the Foundation for West Africa, said that GAWFA is a Women's Association. She urged the UTG to put the books into good use and in an organised manner.
The vote of thanks was given by the University Librarian, Mrs. Rosanna Ndow Jallow.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 36/2007, 28-29 March, 2007
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