Updated
June 27, 2004
GTS Bakoteh - News Coverage
The Forayaa & Independent covered the stone laying of the major refurbishments to the 80 place community school supported by GTS & its members while it re-builds.
Bakoteh
School
Home
Pictures
The start
Pictures
Completed
The Observer Article June 03
The
Opening
Article February 04
Kabs takes the time to ensure accountability for all projects now helped by GTS This improves the confidence of all the tourists supporting each project as well as the locals who can see their community is being helped and not just a few local people.
The link was established when Helen Scorer took a working holiday through GTS and spent her time at the Bakoteh proper school, where her stay was greatly appreciated by all the local families whose children Helen taught.
If you would like to help in Gambia by taking a working break - GTS can help you and provide the initial support that helps in finding suitable accomodation and all the living necessities to make your stay a valuable experience.
Taken from P3 of Forayaa mid June
Contact GTS to help
At
a ceremony on Sunday 1st June the Bakoteh community benefitted from
a project called "Gambia Tourist Support" through the effort
of a prominent native of bakoteh called Kabiroi Jabang the Manager of
GTS (Gambia). The office is situated in Kololi. The project is a charitable
project
In his opening speech he gave a brief history of the project. And noting that it is non partisan that it is solely his community participation and the Gambia in general. He said the founder Mr. Francis Glynn who is a British national. He pointed out that today many tourists who visit the Gambia do not support individuals but do give support through organisations like Gambia Tourist Support. He revealed that GTS is sponsoring 130 students, from early childhood education teachers institutions like MDI and other certificate schools. He said in early april 2003 the community and the councillor of Bakoteh approached GTS to seek for support for the rehabilitation of the school.
This Lead to an arrangement by GTS to fund the rehabilitation of the school. The agreement was signed by Mr Kabirou Jabang on behalf of GTS and Alkalo Metta Jassey on behalf of the community. It was witnessed by councillor Yusupna Sanyang. According to the agreement GTS is to provide the funds for the materials for the rehabilitation of the two classroom blocks and an office, while the villagers are to provide the labour.
The school shall be named GTS Bakoteh Nursery School. The school is to record all moneis donated by visitors and keep reciepts of all expenditures for the purpos of accountability. The land is 100% community owned and no rent is paid either. He thanked the community for playing their part in the community development.
The National Assembly member for Serekunda West, Mr Sulayman Joof, who spoke at the ceremony was apparently so impressed by the variety of people in attendance that he could not avoid to tell the community to put their political differences aside and work for their common benefit. He also emphasised the importance of early childhood education as it is the foundation of education.
Mr Francis Gomaz spoke on behalf of the Mayor of kanifing Municipality. Other speakers included the alkalo and Imam of the village. The ceremony was attended by a cross section of the community.
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