HANDING OVER OF ARABIC SCHOOL BUILT WITH SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S FUND FOR REFUGEES AT JULANFARI
MAY 20, 2008
Mr. Alkalo (Village Head)
Director, St. Joseph’s Family Farm
Representative from Concern Universal
Village Elders
Village Women and Youths
Staff of St. Joseph’s Family Farm
Refugees and their families
First let me say thank you for the warm welcome to the village. I am happy to be with you today as one my first official engagements outside Banjul area since my arrival here as U.S. Ambassador in January. It is indeed a pleasure for me to be among you today to hand over this nursery school to the community.
I want to thank you for your contribution in the construction of the classrooms. We were pleased to provide materials for you but the unskilled labor was provided by the community and this is what we call partnership in development, and I want to thank all those who contributed to the success of this project.
The Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees is to help the community of Julanfari to be able to host refugees fleeing their country. This is highly appreciated as we all know that refugees do not leave their country by choice. They are here because of what happened in their village and you welcoming them in your village is a sign of good gesture.
I salute the village head and every one for extending a welcoming hand to the refugees here and their families. The Arabic school we are inaugurating today will help the children of the refugees and their hosts in Julanfari. It is always rewarding to be of help to people in distress. We complement the efforts of the People of Julanfari for providing this school for the children.
As an embassy, we work with communities in The Gambia to help them meet their development needs. The Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees is one project we have to help refugees settle in with relative ease in their host communities. It is my understanding that two wells are also rehabilitated in this village from the Ambassador’s Fund for refugees. The wells will help to provide clean water for both refugees and their host families.
Let me take this opportunity to also thank the Director of St. Joseph’s Farm, Mr. Marcel Badjie and his staff for successfully implementing this project. Thanks also goes to Concern Universal which signed the contract for this project with the US Embassy. The staff of these two organizations collaborated very well with us during the implementation of the project. We look forward to more collaboration with them to implement more projects for the community in these areas.
Once again, Mr. Alkalo, thank you for hosting the refugees. The contribution of the villages and that of the refugees is greatly appreciated. I hope and wish that the school will help the children of both refugees and people of Julanfari to study hard. I urge you to send your children to the school.
I thank you again for the warm reception and for welcoming me among you today. On this note, I want to handover the classrooms constructed under the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees to the community of Julanfari.
Good Luck and make the best use of the school. Thanks for your attention.
