John Paul 2nd Foundation For the Sahel Clocks 25

Thursday, June 4, 2009

The John Paul 11 Foundation is an initiative of Pope John Paul 11 for the Sahel region and an Institution of the Catholic Church founded February 1984 after the Pope came on a visit to this part of the world. Since then they have been working assiduously to meet the objectives of the Foundation. Several projects have been accomplished and many more in the pipeline. To mark their 25th years of existence, the community of Kungkujang Keitaya and Sinchu Sourie were handed their water project before several dignitaries including the Bishop of the Diocese of Banjul, The Gambia.

According to John Z. Sylva, Director and Coordinator of the Catholic Development Office, the John Paul 11 Foundation (JP11) for the Sahel is an institution of the Catholic Church founded in February 1984. It is managed by the Church of the nine Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and The Gambia, through a governing board based in Ouagoudagou, Burkina Faso.

According to John Z. Sylva, Director and Coordinator of the Catholic Development Office, the John Paul 11 Foundation (JP11) for the Sahel is an institution of the Catholic Church founded in February 1984. It is managed by the Church of the nine Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and The Gambia, through a governing board based in Ouagoudagou, Burkina Faso.

The John Paul 11 Foundation, he said fights against desertification and its causes and provides assistance to victims of drought. The Foundation works to aid one of the poorest regions of the world by providing life saving water and life changing education and training for Sahelians.

The John Paul 11 Foundation, he said fights against desertification and its causes and provides assistance to victims of drought. The Foundation works to aid one of the poorest regions of the world by providing life saving water and life changing education and training for Sahelians.

The JP11 Foundation for the Sahel finances projects of training and development prioritized as follows: Safe Drinking Water, Environment, ecology, Hydraulics, Agriculture, Fishing, Renewable and sustainable energy, Women and Youth Empowerment, Health and Vocational and Technical Training.

The JP11 Foundation for the Sahel finances projects of training and development prioritized as follows: Safe Drinking Water, Environment, ecology, Hydraulics, Agriculture, Fishing, Renewable and sustainable energy, Women and Youth Empowerment, Health and Vocational and Technical Training.

In celebrating 25 years of service to The Gambian people; the Diocese of Banjul is organizing a series of activities among which is the official handing over of the JP11 sponsored water project. The theme for the Silver Jubilee celebration is, “John Paul 11 Foundation; an instrument of the Church promoting solidarity and self-reliance among all peoples of the Sahel.”

In celebrating 25 years of service to The Gambian people; the Diocese of Banjul is organizing a series of activities among which is the official handing over of the JP11 sponsored water project. The theme for the Silver Jubilee celebration is, “John Paul 11 Foundation; an instrument of the Church promoting solidarity and self-reliance among all peoples of the Sahel.”

While gathered at Kunkujang Keitaya and Sinchu Sourie, Reverend Fr. Francis Eyo MSP, parish priest of St. Charles Lwanga, Fajikunda led the Christian prayer, while Oustass Senghore led the Muslim prayer.

While gathered at Kunkujang Keitaya and Sinchu Sourie, Reverend Fr. Francis Eyo MSP, parish priest of St. Charles Lwanga, Fajikunda led the Christian prayer, while Oustass Senghore led the Muslim prayer.

In his speech, Mr. Sabally representing NAWEC, partners in the water project at Kunkujang Keitaya and Sinchu Sourie said “We have been asked by President Jammeh to help with such programmes with 30%, which in this case is about D 400,000. “We thank President Jammeh for his very commendable initiatives in all facets of life. We shall continue to help to achieve his aim for the country.” Sabally said. Mr. Sabally further said that the project was only a pilot project from CaDo, “You need to keep it safe so that they can bring other projects for your area,” he said.

In his speech, Mr. Sabally representing NAWEC, partners in the water project at Kunkujang Keitaya and Sinchu Sourie said “We have been asked by President Jammeh to help with such programmes with 30%, which in this case is about D 400,000. “We thank President Jammeh for his very commendable initiatives in all facets of life. We shall continue to help to achieve his aim for the country.” Sabally said. Mr. Sabally further said that the project was only a pilot project from CaDo, “You need to keep it safe so that they can bring other projects for your area,” he said.

Sabally thanked the John Paul 11 Foundation for a very good initiative. I am asking that you keep it up and continue your good work. He hopes many others would emulate the JP11 Foundation as they have worked in partnership to bring water to that end of the country.

Sabally thanked the John Paul 11 Foundation for a very good initiative. I am asking that you keep it up and continue your good work. He hopes many others would emulate the JP11 Foundation as they have worked in partnership to bring water to that end of the country.

In his Handing over speech, Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison CSSp took the poster made by the school children present and said the water was running from the tap clean and had filled the two buckets. But Bishop emphasised that the water in the bucket should not be left to waste. That it was an indication that the water from the tap should not waste. “Close the tap when it is full. Do not let the water waste. The picture was good because it tells us exactly not to forget to close the tap when the buckets are full. The taps should be well kept and maintained to let it last longer,” he said.

In his Handing over speech, Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison CSSp took the poster made by the school children present and said the water was running from the tap clean and had filled the two buckets. But Bishop emphasised that the water in the bucket should not be left to waste. That it was an indication that the water from the tap should not waste. “Close the tap when it is full. Do not let the water waste. The picture was good because it tells us exactly not to forget to close the tap when the buckets are full. The taps should be well kept and maintained to let it last longer,” he said.

He emphasised that, based on the fact that the religions and government can join hands to make things work shows that government and Christians can work together to help the people despite religious affiliations. It is not meant for any particular group, religious sect but for a general purpose for all that live around the area.

He emphasised that, based on the fact that the religions and government can join hands to make things work shows that government and Christians can work together to help the people despite religious affiliations. It is not meant for any particular group, religious sect but for a general purpose for all that live around the area.

Bishop Ellison CSSp said that he will come again like a thief at night to see if the taps are still running and kept well.

Bishop Ellison CSSp said that he will come again like a thief at night to see if the taps are still running and kept well.

As a way of handing over the project to the community Bishop Ellison CSSp shook hands with the two Alkalos of Kungkujang Keitaya and Sinch Sourie as a way of taking ownership or their projects.

As a way of handing over the project to the community Bishop Ellison CSSp shook hands with the two Alkalos of Kungkujang Keitaya and Sinch Sourie as a way of taking ownership or their projects.

Mrs. Saine in her thank you on behalf of the community recounted the suffering of women and how it is difficult for them to push wheelbarrow with five gallon robbers full of water from a very far distance, but this time it will be a different story. Kumba Kanuteh advised on water wastage and asked households to be careful as to how water is used. She thanked CaDo and all present.

Mrs. Saine in her thank you on behalf of the community recounted the suffering of women and how it is difficult for them to push wheelbarrow with five gallon robbers full of water from a very far distance, but this time it will be a different story. Kumba Kanuteh advised on water wastage and asked households to be careful as to how water is used. She thanked CaDo and all present.

In his speech, John Z. Sylva Director of CaDo said they had collaborated with the government in many areas like education and health, therefore the work of CaDo is not new in the Gambia. “I am calling on communities to take care of their projects properly by not wasting the water and pay their bills regularly. He advised that a lot of money was used in getting the work done, they should therefore be more careful to keep it going.

In his speech, John Z. Sylva Director of CaDo said they had collaborated with the government in many areas like education and health, therefore the work of CaDo is not new in the Gambia. “I am calling on communities to take care of their projects properly by not wasting the water and pay their bills regularly. He advised that a lot of money was used in getting the work done, they should therefore be more careful to keep it going.

Sang Gomez the Project Supervisor of CaDo, expressed his satisfaction over the work done and thanked those who came to grace the occasion and he chaired the gathering.

Sang Gomez the Project Supervisor of CaDo, expressed his satisfaction over the work done and thanked those who came to grace the occasion and he chaired the gathering.

Author: Augustine Kaniji