The top brass of the Fresh Start Foundation (FSF), in Worcester, Uk recently arrived in The Gambia on a fact finding mission with stakeholders in the fight against the use of drugs and abuse in The Gambia.

FSF is a registered charitable organisation in both UK and The Gambia. It was established to support children between the ages of seven to eighteen whom due to poverty are vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.

The foundation endeavour to provide this with programmes that will assist them in overcoming the effects of the abuse, while achieving their effective social re-integration into mainstream education and skilled training.

The delegation included Lamin Daffeh, Chief Executive Officer, Richard Allsup a Trustee, Rebecca Daffeh and Max Allsup.

Rebcca Daffeh in an interview with the Daily Observer said, ‘the trip is meant to establish a training exchange between FSF and stakeholders in the fight against the use of drug abuse in The Gambia. “Also to develop a five year strategic plan to develop regional base learning support, health and social care unit for 120 children. We met Fanta Sisay, Director of Social Welfare, Dr Mariatou Jallow, officials of Youth Care Foundation and Raid. During the course of our fact finding mission, Rebecca and Max were providing educational support to the childern at the Standard Chartered Bank childcare unit at Buffa zone”.

He added that they hope to venture into areas like education, health, agriculture and skills training. “Our working objective is to relieve the needs of children who are affected by childhood trauma, such as sexual abuse or ill health and to help them recover both physically and psychologically from the trauma through the provision of care, support and access to counselling and treatment’’.