CASA Gambia presents 10-classroom 2-story building

Yesterday 25th September 2021, CASA Gambia in collaboration with MRC – Holland Foundation presented 10 classroom 2-storey building block to teachers, pupils of Brufut Lower Basic School and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. 

The handing over ceremony was attended by The Representative from Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Representative from MRC – Holland, Member of Parliament Sanehmentereng Constituency, Councillor Sanehmentereng Ward, Alkalo-Brufut Village, Elders of Bulundala, Chairman VDC, Representatives of BDA, CASAGambia members, Residents of Brufut, Teachers and Students of Brufut Lower Basic School. 

In his welcoming remark, Mr. Amadou A. Jallow – Education coordinator of CASA Gambia welcomes all stakeholders to the handing over event and highlight some of the achievements of CASA Gambia in the education sector, enormous contribution of MRC – Holland Foundation in the education sector and overview of the entire project. Ousman Bojang, representative of MRC – Holland foundation gave a detailed insight of the success of Brufut Lower Basic School as he attended the school in his teenage years and also advise the teachers and pupils of the school to take great care of the building and ensure proper maintenance is done. He further stressed the important role CASA Gambia is playing in bringing basic and secondary education to the door setup of the Gambian children. He advised that CASA Gambia shouldn’t keep knocking doors to enable donors to come for the aid of other communities as to improve basic and secondary education in The Gambia. 

In his presentation, the chairman of CASA Gambia – Mr. Ebrima Jatta who assert that the achievements of this project came through not because of our efforts alone but a combine effort including yours. We were together with our noble stakeholders; MRC Holland, Brufut LBS, Contractors, and the list goes on with many concern institutions and people. Alongside this project CASA has registered a list of other achievements; ———– Rehabilitation of Brufut Lower Basic School, Renovation of Sheikh Mafuz Bilingual School within this period. He further advises that we must be willing to volunteer and sacrifice sometimes to make our communities better by ourselves and not always waiting on the government because they cannot do it all. We cannot do this with the ability alone but alongside with character as ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep one on top. He said in their collective and voluntary work to make Brufut and the Gambia a home for us all the sky is not our limit but the beginning of more achievements for our beloved people. 

Representative from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education – Mr. Ebrima Saidy who gave a historical event of their school days in Brufut Lower Basic School. He lamented students are now lucky compared to when they were going to school, they used to attend their classes under the mango trees and under huts, whereas Education has changed significantly and pupils have conductive classroom to attend lectures. He further mentioned about the relevance of the participation of the the important stakeholders that make a school (Teachers, Parents and Students) and advised that they must safeguard the faculty in the school so as to serve generations. 

Mr. Sheriff B Jammeh , Head Master Brufut Lower Basic School gave a vote of thanks and thank the great intervention of CASA Gambia and MRC Holland for coming to their aid to curb the shortage of classrooms the school has been suffering. The event was concluded with a tour of the 10 classroom Storey building by member of parliament – Sannehmentereng constituency, chairman VDC, councillor – Sannehmentereng ward, member of the Brufut diaspora association, stakeholders of the school, project team, pupils and community of Brufut.