By Kumba Leigh
Nema Foundation, a Belgium-based organisation, with a branch in The Gambia aims to improve water supply and sanitation, better management of water resources, boost countries’ economic growth, and contribute to poverty reduction.
The organization was in Foni Kansala last week to hand over borehole projects and water pumping machines to schools and health centres in twelve communities in the area. The initiative is geared towards complementing government’s efforts in enhancing quality healthcare, education and sanitation.
Speaking at Kappa Village, one of the beneficiary communities, Louis Eelen, Chairman, Nema Foundation Belgium, said safe and readily available water is important for public health; whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes.
He said in a bid to ensure clean drinking water, there is the need to help the less-privileged; especially the vulnerable people. This, he added, is key to the organisation’s mission and vision.
“Due to the impacts of wars in Ukraine and Yemen and the increase of refugees in Belgium, acquiring funds from partners and other philanthropists is becoming too hard,’’ he lamented.
He revealed plans to render similar assistance to other local communities in the rural Gambia.
Explaining his source of support, Mr. Eelen stated: “Aside from individual help from my family, for which I am currently training my children to take over, my organisation in Belgium goes through a project proposal betting competition in search of additional monetary assistance from partners.”
Lamin Dibba, Project Coordinator, Nema Foundation, said a number of assessments have been conducted to gauge the impact of the project implementation in Kappa Village.
He said they had visited the Kappa Clinic and the Kappa Basic Cycle School to ascertain the kind of assistance needed and the budget.
Modou Bah, Secretary General, Nema Foundation The Gambia said since the inception of the foundation in 2015, it has been engaged in lots of ‘give back to the community’ activities including sponsoring some less-privileged families.
He assured of plans to reach out to more communities in rural Gambia in the coming days. He hailed their partners Maala and King Baudouin for their support.
The principal of Kappa Basic Cycle School; and Ousman Sowe, Officer in charge of Kappa Clinic; and Alkalo thanked Nema Foundation for their swift and timely intervention.
