Sponsor's update from Bakoteh, The Gambia

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Bakoteh, The Gambia from Winter 2008.

SOS Children’s Village Bakoteh is home to 102 children comprising of 43 males and 59 females whiles the Youth Village is accommodating 15 boys. The village director organized a forum in which the SOS Children’s Village Manual was reviewed to foster better understanding of the standards with support from the Regional Education Department. A child protection workshop was held in the village which drew the attention of the village staff and its affiliated projects. The workshop was facilitated by the Social Worker of the village and the National Coordinator of the Child Protection Alliance.The Village Director attended a workshop on Early Child development at the Regional Mothers and Adult Training Centre organised by National Education and Training Adviser.

In August 2008, the village received some children from SOS CV Basse who came to spend part of their holidays. They made visits to the Museum, Banjul International Airport, Kachikally (home of the crocodiles), the Gambia Radio and Television Services Headquarters, Gamwater and Gambega.

A renowned dentist and his team visited the village and deliberated on possible ways of offering dental and oral clinics to the SOS children and youths. In the preliminary, dental examination was done for all the children in Bakoteh, the youths and the some children that came for holiday from Basse village.

The SOS Nursery School operates a double shift because of the high demand for admission from the community and the lack of additional classrooms to accommodate all the children in the morning shift, this has mandated us to accommodate 159 pupils in the morning shift and 53 in the afternoon. Nursery school pupils are taught different subject areas for examples: English, Mathematics, Science Social & Environmental Studies, Handwriting, Scribbling, Jolly Phonics, Arts & Craft, French, Physical Education, Songs, Rhymes and Montessori method of teaching which is referred to as learning through play. Other activities include excursions, picnics, “SET SETAL” referred to as environmental sanitation.

Academic performance especially those in the Senior Secondary level is still average but with tutorial lessons are on-going. One of our youths has successfully completed his diploma course in Business Management and is employed by his College- International Business College, in Bakau. The teenager on the Law course has entered his Higher Diploma with the Gambia Technical Training Institute. Four of our youths wrote the WASSCE conducted by WAEC ending completion of Senior Secondary Education Grade 12 and two others wrote the Gambia Basic Education Certificate and have gained entry to the Senior Secondary Grade 10.

The Youth Village convened a meeting of members of the National Youth Development Team and the Youth Status Quo was amended. This was followed by a four day Regional Youth Development Team Workshop. The Youth Forum (AFWE) Concept came up and a Regional Chair and Secretary positions were put in place through ballot. Youth delegates are being prepared for the forum. The Youth Leader participated in training on Youth Management Component of Youth care. In August, the Youth Leader in collaboration with The YMCA took Youths to Ziguinchor for a ten day Annual International Youth Camp.

Education and learning in The Gambia

SOS Primary and Secondary Schools
The SOS School is a Basic Cycle School within The Gambia’s education system and implements the National School Curriculum. At present the total school roll is 840 pupils with 416 boys and 424 girls. There are 412 students in the morning shift and 428 students in the afternoon shift at both levels. We have 14 SOS children in the Upper Basic; 3 are boys and 11 are girls and in the Lower Basic, there are 32 of them; 15 boys and 17 girls.

We need to upgrade our facilities such as the school hall, since student enrolment is growing and for effective conduct of external exams such as The Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination (GABECE) for Grade 9 students for accommodation. In order to identify and develop sporting talents in students, the school organized its Inter House sports competition. Child protection issues are also implemented and all staff are aware of its importance. A staff workshop in August was aimed at review all teaching/learning activities and related areas and discuss strategies for development.

The Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination result this year shows marked improvement in the performance of our students. Fifty-five students were presented for the examination. All of them passed and have secured places in the Senior School. The SOS Secondary School started the new school year in September 2008, and increased by 410 as a result of the introduction of the Afternoon Shift. The results of the external examinations show a significant improvement in the results of our students. 100% credit pass was registered in 6 subjects; in other subjects students registered between 71% to 93% credit passes.

The SOS Further Education Programme ran a 6-month diploma course in “Peace Building and Conflict Resolution” during the year. 45 students (adults) completed the course in April with success. Training for the next batch of students will commence in November 2008.

The school’s Peace Pal Club organised a colorful march pass in commemoration of Peace week celebrations. The school’s Peer Health Team was engaged in sensitising students in other schools on issues relating to HIV/AIDS, Cholera and Malaria.

SOS TRAINING & PRODUCTION CENTRE & SOS MOTHER ADULT TRAINING CENTRE
The SOS Training & Production Centre is giving services to the community and the other SOS projects and staff whilst operating its three areas; Carpentry, Metalwork and Auto Mechanic. A parents’ day was held on the 29th of July this year, this was in the form of an exhibition where parents came in to view the works of the students and the students explained how they prepared the products on exhibit and answer questions from the parents. It was a very interesting event and the parents were very much impressed by what they saw.

An entry examination was held in August for the new academic year 2008/2009 and an interview was held during the first week of September for the short listed candidates. A total of 20 students were selected, 6 in carpentry, 7 in metalwork and 7 in Auto mechanic. We have a roll of 64 students; 21 are in the Metalwork section, 22 in the Carpentry and 21 in the Auto Mechanic section. All of these workshops are busy with the high demands for their products and services because people are realising the good quality of materials produced and services offered.

In the course of the year, three Refresher courses were organised for Mothers and Aunties from North West Africa Children’s Villages in the year 2008 to prepare them for their job at the SOS-Children’s Villages. This year total of 23 students enrolled for our two-year program in Sewing and Craft Work.

The Social Work Certificate Programme students from 2007/8 session completed all their semester exams in the programme. Field Practice workshop was organised for students which they have completed. Five Field Practice teachers were recruited for the full-time students while three for the part-time students.

The 2007/8 full-time students have completed the requirements for the Social Work Certificate in October, while the part-time students rounded up in December. The entrance examination for the 2008/9 academic session took place in October 2008/9 while classes commenced in October with registered students and a matriculation ceremony will be organised in December 2008.

Working with the community at Bakoteh, The Gambia

SOS MOTHER & CHILD CLINIC
The goal of SOS Mother and Child Clinic has been to provide an affordable primary health care to SOS community and to the public at large. From July to the end of October 2008, over ten thousand patients attended, the majority of whom were children(60%) who came for consultation, weighing and immunization, women seen for antenatal care and family planning(30%).

The introduction of an eye care unit has helped in the treatment of eye diseases such as trachoma and cataract which are common in The Gambia. The integration of the prevention of Mother to Child Transmission programme of HIV has been very successful due to the fact that there has been an increase in the new antenatal visits. Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) has also played a pivotal role.
There has been a decrease in the malaria pandemic because of the introduction of Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNS) distributed to children under five years and pregnant women. Due to the high demand of patient care, the clinic is in operation during weekend in order to provide permanent health care to the community.

However, the unavailability of delivery rooms for pregnant women, post natal ward and pediatric unit remains a major hindrance for the achievement of a comprehensive medical care, and financial self reliance of the clinic. Therefore the building of an extension to existing structure is in progress.

SOS FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMME -THE GAMBIA
144 families (545 children) are enrolled enabling them to reach self-reliance. Areas of focus include on four major locations in the Western Division; Tanji, Brikama, Bajagarr and Bakoteh. In these locations, the programme give support to each child/family to increase the availability of basic life-sustaining goods and raising their level of living through supplementing their income, provision of better education and expand the range of economic and social choices available.

FSP Bakoteh is a community led programme, which involves the community from participation to programme management and which targets orphans and vulnerable children living in unsuitable conditions.

At the beginning of September 2008, 152 students were given educational support and the package cover’s all educational expenditure for 2008-2009 academic year that is school fees and uniforms. The nursery in Bajagarr and some community volunteers embark on school activities such as school health promotion, safe and health environment and good nutrition practice. Ongoing sensitization about Rights of child, Non discrimination between children, openness to truth, Prepare children and parents for impending death through involving the community in providing psychosocial support and conducting research in certain area of interest.

On behalf of the Management team of SOS Children’s Villages Bakoteh, its affiliated projects and the National Office team, we thank you profoundly for your benevolent gesture and we register our profound appreciation for this noble gesture.

Yours faithfully

Mrs. Mariama Bayo Sidibeh
SOS Children, The Gambia