"Nafaa" for all initiative project and the Mandinaba women re-cycling group, both organisations based in Mandinaba Village, Kombo East, have recently signed a memorandum of partnership at a ceremony held at the Mandinaba community library.

"Nafaa" for all initiative project is a registered Non-governmental organisation initiated by the Mandinaba Youth and sport committee and Lesley Copeland, a US peace corps volunteer posted at the village. The organisation was formed in 2006 with the vision for changing the lives of peoples through community-based projects.

The mandinaba women re-cycling group on the other hand was established to  re-cycle waste plastic bags in to valuable things such as wallets and bags. They also embark on environmental sanitation and take part in the monthly set-setals (opperation clean the nation).

Speaking during the partnering ceremony, Ousman Manneh, Vice Chairperson of Mandinaba Youth and Sports Committee noted the importance of the joint partnership between the two groups, stating that it would facilitate easy mobilisation of the people from both the male and the female folk. Manneh reminded the gathering that Mandinaba belongs to all of them and that they should all be ready to sacrifice for its development in the interest of their young ones. He emphasised that his committee was always committed to work for the village and to implement modern developments there.

He asserted that the "Nafaa" initiative is designed to up lift the life and well being of the people. He narrated that last year, the initiative signed a memorandum of understanding with the Wings of the Dawn, an international institute based in America, devoted to the shipment of books and school supplies to countries in Africa. Manneh noted that this was done so that the fundraising for the project could be easier.

Kaddy Sanneh, Chairperson of the mandinaba women re-cycling group attest to the efforts mandinaba youth and sports committee is doing to inculcate good reading habits into the students of the village and beyond.

She noted that the joint partnership by the two groups would surely bear beneficial fruits in the nearest future. Mrs Sanyang, a pragmatic and consciously developmental oriented lady, further noted that no meaningful development could be achieved unless the people are ready to take part in its processes.

She said that since the inception of her group, they have been contributing immensely in keeping the village and its environs clean by picking waste plastic bags and in turn transform them in to durable assets. She then called on the government and private NGO’s to come forward and collaborate with them.

For his part, Ousman Bah, treasurer of mandinaba youth and sports committee and the secretary of "Nafaa" initiative,fe who also doubles as the Wings of the Dawn representative in the Gambia noted the efforts of the Mandinaba youths over the years.

He emphasised that the Community library being the first phase is part of a D5 Million project which will include an internet café, multi purpose conference hall, computer literacy centre, career, guidance and counselling centre and shops, all gearing towards empowering the youth to venture into their own businesses. Bah under scored some of the activities taken by his committee. He stated that every summer, they conducted summer classes for students in the examinations classes of grades six, nine and twelve.

He boasted that students who have been attending these summer classes had all passed their examinations with flying colours.

According to Mr Bah, the community library can accommodate students of the village and the surroundings to read in a calm atmosphere and to discuss on issues affecting them.

He noted that Friday and Saturday nights would be specially put aside for discussions and debates on burning issues such as teenage pregnancy, mass examination failure, drug and alcohol abuse, among others. "These have brought rapid changes of life to the student fraternity in the village", he remarked. He then urged the women to exercise sense of responsibilities by lobbying for robust developments for the village. He also urged them to be sending their children to exploit the facilities of the village.