A Dutch foundation helping the poor and the needy in The Gambia has outlined their work and opened a local branch in line with their aims and objectives recently.

According to Sander Arts, Chairman of the Heart for Gambia foundation it was founded in 2006 in the Netherlands. It was registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and tax office and has also been registered in The Gambia as a local NGO with Leo Abdulai as Director.

Sander said their foundations aim is to help the poor people in society by facilitating projects which help increase peoples level of education. He said “Not by bringing money but with goods and facilities. 95%-98% of the funds we receive are directed into the projects”.

Sander further said that the foundation gets gifts from the Netherlands from companies, organisations and private individuals especially ACA Retail BV and Bosman Paramedic Supplies. He praised these companies and all their donors for being firmly behind them in their work. He noted that clothing and show companies have been very generous benefactors to them and that without the sponsors and donations their work would not be possible.

According to Sander and Cees, a hard working co-member, they run their project via The Gambia Pastoral Institute and are providing several with paramedical goods. Spectacles were given to The Gambia eye clinic and welfare goods such as shoes and clothing are distributed by The Gambia Pastoral Institute in collaboration with Leo Lawrence Abdoulie the Country Director of the project.

The foundation provides a complete library to Marakissa Methodist Elementary School including books furniture, sporting materials, toys and writing supplies. They further provide handicraft tools for St Peter’s Upper Basic School and that a further investigation for extra support would take place.

Other projects, Sander said, include St. Theresa’s Upper Basic School which has received computers and supplies with pre-installed software and tutorials which can be used to give free tutorials during the weekend.
During a visit to the Secretary of State for Tourism they were taken to Abuko Upper Basic, her former school. “We donated PC’s and further investigations would take place”, Cees said.

Sander and Cees said papers are in shipment at the moment. The container in which the goods are being transported will be sold after it arrives and the funds will be used for scholarships at Marakissa Elementary School and GPI.