BA'LAL RURAL EMPOWERMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (BRESDI)

BA’LAL FOUNDATION AWARDS GRADUATE CEREMONY

The Ba'lalfoundation in Soma town, Jarra West District, Lower River Region on Sunday 2ndDecember, 2012, has made an award presentation ceremony on the school ground atthe Silicon Institute of technology and Professional Studies. SiliconInstitute was founded by Ba'lal foundation based in Soma 2 years ago.

Mr. Alhasan Bah, the web manager of the foundation, gave abrief introduction of the foundation. He said that the foundation was initiatedin June 2011.

The aims and objectives of the foundation are to equip andupgrade young children with the requisite knowledge of computer. Their visionis to motivate to upgrade young children in high literacy rate in Informationand Communication Technology (ICT) in the Gambia, with a view to creating awareness andenlightening people on the importance of computer in the modern world throughthe motto "try to leave this world a better place than you found it".

Mr. Lamin Saidy, the regionaldisaster coordinator representing the regional governor LRR, Expresseshis pleasure to stand before the gathering. Saidy talked about the importanceof adult literacy as a key in the challenges of leadership; noting that youthsare the future leaders of this nation and their plight should be given dueconsideration. He said that such initiatives will minimize illegal migration ofyoung people of the Gambia. He advices the graduates to be role models andexamples to their fellow students at their various schools andwork places.

Mr. Amadou Bah, the executive director of Silicon Instituteand the programme officer of Ba'lal Foundation, on his part rephrased that theywere the founders of this association with international

Volunteers, Jacob Cokn and Sarah Cokn. Bah reiterated thegoals of the foundation, saying that they did not only advocate for computerliteracy but also leadership and management skills. He said that they alsoprovide scholarship scheme for needy students who wished for education inskills development, promoting horticultural gardening, create awareness on ICTand the facilitation of e learning for the youths of the Region. He promised tooffer 50 students with scholarship within the civil service and 12 needystudents within the region.

Mr. Lamin Danso, Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) representative,region four, also expresses his delight in seeing young teachers in such initiative. Headvised the graduates to make the best use of the computer Knowledge gained.