Inter-school talent award

The Great Men of State Theatre (GMST) in collaboration with the Federation of Literary and Debating Society (FOLDS), last Saturday organised an Inter-school week of talent award at a ceremony held at the Gambia Senior Secondary School hall, in Banjul.

The occasion which was the climax of a three day sensitisation campaign with the theme: "Say no to child abuse-breaking the culture of silence." These two organisations organised the talent award in the forms of drama, dancing and quiz, among twenty schools from the Greater Banjul Area in both the Lower and Upper Basic Schools.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr Gibrilla Koroma, play and film director thanked the students for participating in the competition. He said that the award ceremony was aimed at bringing together talented people to explore their potentials and to be informed.

He disclosed that, the organisation was founded on November 20, 2005 to inform the students about their rights. "Every year, we will come up with new ideas for students not to be abused and we are trying to expand this programme in order to reach the students in the rural areas," he said.

For her part, Miss Winifred Cole, a teacher at Lenith Preparatory School, advised the participants to be respectful and keep up the spirit anywhere they may find themselves and remain committed to their parents as well as their teachers. She advised them to be good ambassadors in school and in society.

Miss Cole further assured the gathering that, the award ceremony will be an annual event and that they will ensure the students improve on new techniques. She noted that the organisation is open to everyone and they will empower young Gambians.

David Thoronka, the coordinator of FOLDS said the organisation which started three years ago is meant to promote young students to express their talents in society and in any organisation.

He noted that they have decided to share their talents with the students and that it will also bring unity among students themselves.

At the end of the competition, Nusrat Senior Secondary School emerged top on the side of the senior secondary schools and Latrikunda Upper Basic School came first in the upper basic school category. Awards were finally presented to individual outstanding students.