By Harry Bah
Students from the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of The Gambia recently took part in three projects as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility course. The projects included tree planting, donation of valuable goods and a campaign to discourage drug use, particularly Kush.
According to Mr Allasan Gitteh, a lecturer in the school, the aim of the initiative is to encourage students to come up with their own ideas and bring innovation to their learning experience. It also gave students the freedom to choose, express, and execute their ideas to contribute effectively towards societal development.
During the implementation of these projects, students planted trees at the University campus in Kanifing and donated hygiene kits to the Kanifing General Hospital. The team believed that these initiatives would greatly contribute to societal development, particularly within the areas they reached out to.
Ndey Manneh, the leader of the team, expressed belief that the hygiene kits donated to the hospital would be of great benefit to both the staff and patients. “These kits can improve infection control as they typically contain items like disinfectants, surgical gloves, and other personal care products. By supplying patients with these hygiene products, the burden on hospital resources can be reduced, allowing them to allocate those resources to other needs”, she stated.
Manneh shared personal stories and activities that touched her during the process. She expressed gratitude for the warm welcome they received at the hospital and the relief and appreciation from the staff. She found inspiration in the experience and believes that this act is just the beginning of many more. She also commended her colleagues and Mr. Gitteh, their lecturer, for their support and participation in the project.
The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Omar Jammeh, expressed his gratitude upon receiving the gift from the students. He commended the University of The Gambia for their commendable initiative and encouraged them to continue their good work. He also called on others to emulate such initiatives and take responsibility for societal development.
Mr. Alasana Gitteh, the lecturer for the course, emphasised how the initiative promotes a sense of responsibility among students. He believes that it will encourage students to give back to society and be ethical in their responsibilities. He also mentioned plans to expand the project to other communities if opportunities arise.
One of the challenges faced by the team was the mobilisation of resources, which hindered their objectives. Ndey Manneh, the team leader, mentioned that coordinating the collection of funds, reaching out to the hospital management, and organising the logistics for the delivery was a major challenge.
Despite these challenges, the students of the School of Business and Public Administration at the University of The Gambia have made a positive impact by engaging in these projects that contribute to societal development. Their commitment and dedication are commendable, and it is hoped that their initiative will inspire others to take similar actions.
