By: Lamin B. Darboe
Jersey Technical Gambia Schools Trust, based in UK last Thursday commissioned a new solar power water supply plant, worth over D200, 000.00 at Jersey Technical Upper and Senior Secondary School in Sohm village of Kombo East District in West Coast Region.
The water plant was officially handed over to the Board of Governors of the school on the same day. According to the donors, the solar power water plant can supply up to 20,000 litres of water to the school per day.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the school ground, Robin Mallet, the chairman of Jersey Technical Gambia Schools Trust, informed the Board of Governors of the school that they had received over D200, 000.00 funding from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission and Rotary International Jersey branch.
Commissioning of this solar powered water supply plant, according to him, was much closer to his heart. He, therefore, urged the school authorities to use the water judiciously on the vast and arable land for their agricultural activities.
“The school is highly privileged to have such a vast land, all fenced by my Trust. All this is at the disposal of the school and therefore, it needs to be utilised by engaging the students in agricultural activities,” Mallet told the board members of the school. He disclosed to the board members that his Trust is in further consultation with the aforementioned Aid Commission regarding further developments in Sohm Lower Basic School.
Mallet added that their 15 years of existence in The Gambia is characterised by numerous and valuable contributions in the Gambian education sector. Among these contributions, he added, are the current sponsorship packages for over 60 students from early childhood to university level, at a tune of D150, 000 per year.
The chairman of Jersey Technical Gambia Schools Trust also urged the school authority to try and work with his Trust, by engaging their students in agriculture. This, he said, is all about answering to the call made by the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh for Gambians to ‘go back-to-the land’ and ‘grow what they eat and eat what they grow’.
Speaking on behalf of the board of governors of the school, Aja Chargie Sanyang, a board member, thanked the donors most profoundly for their relentless support to the school. She assured Mallet and his Trust that their unlimited interventions to the school are highly appreciated by the school’s administration and the entire village of Sohm.