Alliance for Democracy in Africa

NIMA GIBBA CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Ms. Nima Gibba is the daughter of Eliman Gibba. Nima's family continues to be an outstanding and generous donor to Alliance for Democracy in Africa since the organization was established in 2000. However, two years ago, Nima was involved in a car accident and tragically passed away at the very tender age of 11. During her life, Nima's wish was to help people, especially the under-privileged youth and women, in the areas of education, income-generating enterprises for women, African cultural development through music and dancing, etc. In recognition of her and her family's continuous support for ADA, the organization has recently established the "Nima Gibba Centre for Women and Youth Development" in Farato village, about twenty minutes' drive from Serrekunda. The centre currently trains 75 girls and boys, from ages three to five, to read and write. The centre also plans to train 600 women members of ADA in skills of tie and dye, vegetable gardening, soap making, and other income-generating activities. ADA highly appreciates everyone's support to ensure that the center fulfills Nima's dreams of enriching the lives of the less fortunate members of our society.

JUNIATA COLLEGE STUDENTS VISIT THE GAMBIA, DONATE SEWING MACHINES AND FOOTBALLS TO COMMUNITIES

The following are excerpts from an article written by Mr. Suwaibou Touray, editor of the Gambian "FOROYAA" newspaper.

Students of Juniata College in the United States of America led by Professor Emil Nagengast, who doubles as the Public Relations Manager in USA for Alliance for Democracy in Africa (Gambia chapter), are currently visiting The Gambia.

In a ceremony marking the occasion, Mr. Fabakary Badjie, a representative of the Alkalo of Tallinding thanked Prof. Nagengast and the students and asked for prayers. Dr. Madi Touray thanked the students and gave credit to all them. He emphasized that without them the gathering would not have taken place. He explained how he met the donors and thanked Prof. Nagengast for his contribution to ADA programs.

Prof. Nagensast told the beneficiaries that the students are in The Gambia for three weeks to learn about the country . He said they were happy to donate items to the women to help themselves. “What we focus on bringing are footballs and football gear and, most important, Madi says, are sewing machines for the women and all these items are donated by these students,” said Prof. Nagengast.

The visiting college professor said Alliance for Democracy in Africa (ADA) is now an international NGO and they supported some of their programs. Otto Nagensast, son of Professor Nagengast, who spoke on behalf of the students, said he was in The Gambia last year and he played football with students at Sait Maskah School. He saw that they did not put on shoes while playing. “Now that they have shoes, I am scared how they will play this time”, said Otto, also a student from Juniata College. “It is wonderful to support Dr. Touray and women with sewing machines,” he said.

Mrs. Maya Kunta of Tallinding said her group is involved in a self-help project and what they produce are soap powder, solid soap, tie dye, batik, etc, which they sell to the community and beyond. She said the raw materials are imported and that’s what makes the products expensive, making it difficult for them to make progress in the business. Maya said they are grateful to Prof. Nagengast and his students for their great contribution.

Aja Anna Ndong of Tobacco road in Banjul, the capital, representing a group called Kolareh, also thanked the students and said they are happy because the students are empowering them and their families since they are workers. "Next time we will be better prepared and we will display our products to you,” said Aja Anna Ndong of Banjul. She said they have not forgotten the late Mr. Ali Ceesay who introduced them to ADA and are praying for him and his children. She wished the students good luck in returning to their country safely and in peace.

Aji Yama Faal of Brusubi welcomed all the visitors and thanked them for what she called ‘these wonderful gifts’. She said they are engaged in similar programs but they are now exporting their goods abroad. She said, like many communities in Gambia, they have difficulty in paying their children’s school fees. She also said they have a football team in their neighborhood for small children in an academy that they are supporting and she invited the group to see how the children practise football.

Mrs. Mayang Sisawo of Fagi Kunda also said they are engaged in sewing. She said their group was given two sewing machines by ADA and they have employed two tailors and are making some income from it. “What is important is that when someone is helping you, you too should help yourself,” said Mayang. She said she knows that there are people in the US who also need these gifts but thanked the students for having the foresight and desire to bring them to The Gambia instead. She said they thank them for that and they too will do everything to make the best use of the donation.

Other speakers, like Ms. Renata Uphelders of Germany who helps ADA to train trainers, Mr. Alagie Saho, a Gambian who brings vehicles by driving from Europe, all hailed the students for their wonderful effort to help Gambian women to improve their lives.

Mr. Mang Jatta, Suwaibou Touray, and Sana Jatta, among many others, graced the occasion.

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Football Team Awards Ceremony at Nyakoi High School

On January 10, 2011, an Awards Ceremoney was held at the Nyakoi High School in the Upper River Region, 238 miles east of the regional capital Basse, in honour of the visit of ADA members Alexandra Sianis and Eliman Gibba. Alex and Eliman had donated five footballs and football gear, including shirts and trousers, for ADA football teams at Nyakoi High School. The pictures below show students proudly demonstrating their new equipment.

Alliance for Democracy News Competition Awards Ceremony held at Sheikh Mass Kah Senior Secondary School in Bakau

On May 22, 2010 ADA announced the winners of the inaugural “ADA News Competition” at the Sheikh Mass Kah Senior Secondary School in Bakau, The Gambia. The first place prize of 2000 Dalasis and a flashdrive were awarded to Alpha Jallow. The second place winner, Musa Drammeh, won 1000 Dalasis and a flashdrive. Third place, 500 Dalasis and a flashdrive, went to Buba Cham. In addition, prizes were given to all of the students who competed in this News Competition.

This competition was sponsored by the ADA and by Juniata College (USA). It was open to all members of the ADA student club at Sheikh Mass Kah Senior Secondary School. For the past eight weeks these students were given free copies of each of the Gambia’s major newspapers. The competition tested the students’ knowledge of Gambian and world events – based on the reporting in the Gambian newspapers. Professor Emil Nagengast of Juniata College and currently a visiting lecturer at the University of The Gambia stated, “good civic education is impossible if young people are not aware of what is happening in the world and in their country. Newspapers are the most important source of information about government policies. Likewise, the editorials are an essential way for young people to see many sides of key issues.”

Professor Nagengast’s son, Otto Nagengast, is an ADA Youth Ambassador and he assisted in the creation of the news competition. He awarded an ADA certificate to each student who participated this year.

The Secretary General and founder of ADA, Dr. Madi Touray, was proud of the students for their dedication to this civic education competition. He explained, “This is the first time that the ADA has organized an event like this and we hope to repeat this at Sheikh Mass Kah and other Gambian high schools that form ADA student clubs. Nyakoi Senior Secondary School in the Upper River Region (URR) has just formed an ADA club and we are working now with Juniata College to set up a news competition for them next year.”

The faculty advisor of the Sheikh Mass Kah ADA student club, Mr. Nyassi, spoke at the awards ceremony and he reminded his students that civic leadership depends upon hard work. He added, “Hopefully, you have all learned the benefits of reading the newspapers and of educating yourselves about current events. Now you must continue to focus on your own civic education.”

Radio Show Update

(courtesy of Ms. Laura Sager, ADA's Civic Education Program Coordinator)

ADA hosted four radioshows in January 2010 in The Gambia. The first one was on Thursday, January 7th, and dealt with the role of women in nation building.

On Thursday, January 14th, freedom of speech was the major topic, which included not only the private sector but also the role of the media.

On Thursday, January 21st, the focus was on south-north migration, discussing the reasons and consequences of illegal migration towards Europe.

Finally, on Thursday, January 28th, the topic was democracy and ethnicicity, where the role of tribalism during elections was discussed.

For the second and third events the guest speakers invited presented their approach to and opinion on the topics. ADA believes that it is part of the idea of democracy and civic education to give a broad argumentation, even though we don't share all of them. The audience had the chance to make up their own minds, and discuss within their families and communities.

Above, guest speaker Ali talks about the dangers of illegal migration from Africa to Europe.