The Saint John’s School for the Deaf at Kanifing recently unveiled their Plague during the presentation of a new school roof by their partners, Effatha from Holland.

Mr. Harry, Effatha’s Ambassador to The Gambia, especially to the St. John’s School for the Deaf, said everyone knows St. John’s school.

“We got in touch with the school from the beach side,” he said.

Mr. Harry further said that Effatha is one of the five dumb schools in Holland.

“The word Effatha comes from the Bible, meaning be opened. It was not only a school it was a boarding school as well. The school has money and they thought they should be used to help others and The Gambia’s deaf education came to focus for ten years. The first project is to change the roof and today it is done,” he stated.

The blue zinc, he said, signifies hope and expressed optimism that the place creates a learning atmosphere for kids.

Emil V. Kujabi, the Catholic Education Secretary recounted how the children moved from corner to corner to avoid the rains. He said they found it difficult to secure funds for the refurbishment of the roof.

“But today our friends from Effatha have done it”, he said, while commending them for their generosity. He appealed for such a school to be built in Brikama and other parts of the country.

Daniel J. Mendy, the Principal of the school dwelt on their relation with Effatha Foundation.

“We had discussed the refurbishment and general maintenance of the inner buildings of the 25-year-old roof and the foundation devoted D332, 000 and it is done today.

“They made their second commitment to the school feeding programme and gave 1, 800 Euro for every six months and may stop after some years, the next money is expected in January 2010,” he said.

The Principal said their friends at Effatha Foundation look forward to seeing a bus for the school to be inaugurated by next week.

Amadou Touray commended the Effatha Foundation through their Ambassadors. He called on others to emulate their friends from Effatha.

Mr. Harry, the Ambassador from the foundation unveiled the plague.