By Alhaie Babou Jallow
The Bakoteh Shelter for Children and Home for the Elderly Improvement project was recently handed over to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare (MoGCSW).
This rehabilitation project was commissioned at the request of Her Excellency the First Lady, in 2023 and was fully funded by the Government of China.
In her keynote address, First Lady Fatou Bah Barrow said this gesture is a testament to the strength of the bilateral relations and the shared commitment to the development and well-being of the people of The Gambia and the People’s Republic of China. “The infrastructure we are receiving today will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on our vulnerable children; whether in protection, education, healthcare, infrastructure, or other critical sectors that will enhance their quality of life,” she stated.
The Gambia, she noted, has embarked on a journey of transformation, striving to improve the lives of its citizens to ensure sustainable development.
The First Lady acknowledged that the journey is made possible through partnerships and cooperation with nations that share our vision and values. She described China’s role in this journey as invaluable, as it provided the tools, expertise, and support needed to drive progress.
For the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, the shelter represents more than just a building; that it is a sanctuary for The Gambia, providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children who will shape the destiny of this great nation. “It is our hope that this facility will continue to serve as a beacon of hope, offering protection, care, and the opportunity for a brighter future to the children who need it most”.
She added: “It is a project that symbolises the strong ties of friendship and mutual support between Banjul and Beijing”.
The Minister recognised that the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia has always been a regular and significant partner to her Ministry by providing support; such as the donation of medicines, food, school supplies, and free health check-ups for children with special needs particularly orphans and vulnerable families, which was part of the “Warm Children’s Hearts, a China-Africa Joint Action” campaign, co-hosted by the First Lady of Republic of China and the First Lady of Republic of The Gambia.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Madam Rohiatou Kah explained that the project entails hard landscaping of the premises with concrete slabs for ease of mobility and ecstatic design, adjustment of the Shelters’ perimeter fence and installation of barb wires, erection of rams for wheel chair users to access the new building housing the elderly.
