Boost for Mandinaba community library

Mandinaba Community Library under the Mandinaba Youth and Sport Committee’s "Nafaa" for all initiative projects recently benefited from over D40, 000 worth of educational and sporting materials from its US counterpart organisation called Wings of the Dawn International Institute for children. The materials include books from different educational discipline, footballs and goal nets, computers and television set, among other materials.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lanfili Sanno, Alkalo of Mandinaba, emphasised the need for unity and cooperation for sustainable development. He further noted that since the inception of the community library in the village, performance among students in the village have vigorously improved. He then called on the youths of the village to close ranks for development and thank Wings of the Dawn for the support.

Kawsu Sanno, chairperson of the Mandinaba Youth and Sport Committee stated that the library can today provide research for even the university students mentioning some of the important books available ranging from Encyclopaedia from 1992 to date, Geniuses, Health books, Business management, History of John F Kennedy and Napoleon Bonapart, among others. Sanno then reaffirmed his committee’s commitment for the enhancement of excellent educational standard in The Gambia including the empowerment of youths, women and children to venture into self sustainable community base projects. He then noted that the library component is the first phase of the "Nafaa" project which will be in future transformed into a multi purpose resource centre and called on the villagers to claim ownership of the project and then thank Wings of the Dawn.

For his part, Ade Otanaike, President of Wings of the Dawn, expressed delight at the youths of Mandinaba for their visionary ventures. He stated that Wings of the Dawn is committed to working with the youths of the village in making the "Nafaa" for all initiative project, a success.

According to him, his organisation is dedicated to the shipment of books and school supplies to three African countries namely The Gambia, Nigeria and Mozambique.  Otanaike then emphasised Wings of the Dawn’s aim to make education accessible to all for the socio economic of all more especially the disadvantage students. He also commended  Gridian Angles, Goggle, Manage2manage, Great commission Baptist Church (GCBC), Rhythm Band Institute (RBI), Forth Worth International Centre and other individual donors for the support in the shipment of the materials to The Gambia and called on the youths to be steadfast in their routine engagements for the attainment of the project.

Lamin MM Bojang, National Assembly Member for Kombo East District noted that the materials are in line with the Gambia’s educational policy which seek to complement the government efforts in providing sustainable education to students.

The Ceremony was attended by the regional education director for region two, principals of schools and other important figures within the village and surrounding. Mandinaba community library drama group entertained the ceremony on the importance of community libraries.