ASFA Donates 55 Smart Boards to MoBSE
By Awa Sanneh
In an effort to support education, the African Solidarity for Action (ASFA), an association initiated by three Gambians studying in Germany with twenty members, has donated 55 smart technology gadgets, including projectors, whiteboards, smartboards, and other accessories, to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE).
Sheriffo Kijera, Chairman of ASFA international, shared the organisation’s humble beginnings, starting with a donation of 2.5 Euros (D175) and engaging in fundraising activities at events like festivals in Hamburg, Germany. The collected funds played a key role in registering ASFA as a charitable organisation. Kijera emphasised the organisation’s focus on empowering Gambian migrants in Germany through integration workshops, promoting education, employment, and community involvement to combat irregular migration.
Highlighting the main aim of the donation and the process of gathering the items, Kijera expressed, “Education and health are the key sectors in our life, so we deemed it necessary to help these two sectors to help Gambians with a better and easy life so that they won’t think of traveling abroad using the irregular way.”
He urged all Gambians, especially those in the diaspora, to contribute to the development of their country, stating, “We are young Gambians, not rich, but using the little we have to give back to our country. We are urging all Gambians in the diaspora to try and give back to their country, no matter how small, as it will serve as a contributory factor in the development of the country.”
Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Claudiana Cole, expressed her joy in receiving the gadgets, acknowledging their importance in enhancing digital education in Gambia. The donation aligns with the ministry’s needs, and Cole stressed the significance of digital education, especially in the context of the challenges posed by Covid.
She stated, “We are in the world of technology, and Gambia cannot be left behind. When Covid came, schools were closed, and the only way we could reach the children was through digital education.”
ASFA, as an organisation fighting against poverty, marginalization, war, and irregular migration in The Gambia, remains committed to addressing the challenges faced by young people, both in Africa and abroad, particularly in Germany.