The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Gambia office has announced the visit to The Gambia by the Korean Committee for UNICEF (KCU) and its goodwill ambassador, Kim Do Jin – a movie star and celebrity, better known by his artist name, Won Bin.
 
A press release from UNICEF’s Gambia office states that the visiting delegation includes a professional photographer, two producers from MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation) a public service multimedia broadcaster in South Korea, among other very important officials from the KCU.

The release states that the visit by the Korean delegation, which will last from Sunday, 5 April to Sunday, 12 April 2009, will be used to mobilise resources and advocate for investing in children and to verify progress made within a school rehabilitation project funded by KCU. As part of the Schools for Africa Project, the release adds, the Korean Committee for UNICEF has provided funding for the construction of a three-classroom block in Welingara Yareh and the rehabilitation of three-classroom block in Waliba Kunda and Fass Bojang Lower Basic Schools in URR.

Part of this funding, the release went on, has been used to match the Gambian government funds to construct a six-classroom block in Tallinding Lower Basic School in KMC. It proclaims that much progress has been achieved in the contribution and rehabilitation works since the receipt of funds in early 2008.

According to the release, the delegation will visit the construction and rehabilitation sites in KMC and URR, conduct interviews with children and communities and produce a TV documentary that will be broadcast by MBC for viewers in South Korea and abroad. The delegation will also offer school supplies mobilized by KCU and Ambassador Won Bin as donation in kind to the schools visited. It is also hoped that this visit will introduce KCU and the goodwill ambassador, Won Bin, to the Gambian education system and its challenges, especially for access, equity and quality in basic education.
The TV documentary produced with footage from the country visit will highlight some of the challenges and needs for child survival and development, education and protection in The Gambia, which UNICEF hopes will appeal to the South Korean and international viewers for solidarity and support to help children in The Gambia survive and thrive.

The visiting Korean delegation will also meet with the vice president of The Gambia, the speaker of the National Assembly, the SoS for Basic and Secondary Education, the governor of URR, community leaders and Regional Education Staff in URR, as well as the UNICEF goodwill ambassador of The Gambia, Jaliba Kuyateh, the release concludes.