A Dutch charity, Sponsor-child, has leaped in support of underprivileged Gambian children by donating foodstuff amounting to €14,000 – about D819,000.

The items included 70 bags of (50kg) rice, 18 bags of (25kg) rice, 40 bags of onion, 40 carton-boxes of eggs, 36 carton-box of 5-liters cooking oil, and 70 carton boxes packaged with clothes, good stuff, school materials.

The donation will be shared among orphanages and children who come from very poor background families.

The charity has also paid this year’s school fees for 86 children from underprivileged background. 

Speaking at the donation in Tabokoto, Mrs Bertina Zaayern, a 45-year-old nurse in Holland, said during their first visit to the Gambia they noticed that the country really needed support, especially at the educational level.

“Since schools have re-opened, our aim is to support education and we want to see every Gambian child go to school. That’s why we included feeding packages in our foundation so that each child won’t go to school with an empty stomach,” she said.

According to her, over 125 children were supported by this foundation. 

The foundation is also empowering women through gardening, she said. 

“We are happy to see you today (the children and their families). We will continue to support you and put smiles on your faces with the little things we put together,’’ she told the beneficiary children and their parents. 

Fadera Komma, the co-founder of the charity, said they have supported so many school children with their school fees, clothes, and feedings.   

He called on the children to take their work seriously and asked parents to help their children at home as well as make good use of the learning materials given to them, adding that they will continue to support education in the country.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba