A group of philanthropists from Amsterdam,  Holland, on Tuesday, donated a truck containing educational materials, medical items, a car and an ambulance to Kololi Nursery School.  The donated items were presented to the school during a ceremony held at the school premises in Kololi Village.

Established in 1986 as a community based institution, the nursery school has been receiving donations from the Dutch philanthropists since 2001.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Abdoulie Joof, Alkalo of Kololi Village, emphasized that the school is a community project of Kololi noting that the school sponsorship is in two folds.

"Firstly, they helped to built infrastructures and pay school fees for over 200 students.  Secondly, they also assisted us to build a maternity ward for pregnant women in the area," he explained.  He then expressed his sincere gratitude to "Jan and his people for their generous gesture".

According to him, the philanthropists came all the way from Holland through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and finally to The Gambia noting that these people make all these tremendous efforts to help the people of Kololi and The Gambia at large.

He added that, apart from what was inside the lorry, the vehicle itself was donated to the people of Kololi .

"This vehicle will be sold and the funds gained will be used to develop the health center so as to have our own maternity unit for pregnant women," he noted.

He commended the National Assembly member, Sulayman Joof and the school committee for their unflinching support to the development of the school.

Addressing the gathering, Jan, one of the donors said "these items when valued will approximately reach the amount of thousands of dalasis”. He added that they signed a ten-year agreement with the former SoS for Health,  Dr Tamsir Mbowe.

"In the near future, we want to contribute our quota in helping the country’s health centers to improve their services by having an ambulance. Also my country will soon send new teachers and materials in order to help the country’s educational sector in building capacities. These initiatives will be undertaken jointly with the charitable NGO, Raiders for Health," he added.

For her part, Marie Cooker, on behalf of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) commended the donors for their generosity. She assured them that the items will be put  to good use.