PAGE 2 The Point Newspaoer
Kingfisher Trust Dohates
D19m Machinery To School
Kingfisher Trust, a philanthropic organisation based in The Gambia, has donated engineering
machinery valued at one million pounds sterling equivalent of D19million to St. Therese's Upper Basic
School.
The donation, which comes at the close of the century, is one of the organisation's largest ever made. According
to a press release, signed by the founder and secretary General Mr. Simon B. Wezel,
the machinery was donated by Oce Nederland BV and shipped to The Gambia by the Rotary Club Venlo-Maas and Peel
in Holland, to help St. Therese’s to become a fully-fledged technical upper basic school.
The machinery would further help to facilitate the production of items like crankshafts for cars in The Gambia.
The release disclosed that more equipment are expected in two months time. Kingfisher Trust has several programmes
for the
socio-economic development of The Gambia, which include providing a classroom for Internet browsing and computer
suidies for students in the Greater Banjul area where they access the internet free of charge.
The release said a request made to Gamtel last May for int:et-net services received no positive
response. The release also disclosed that volunteers from Europe would arrive in The Gambia
(See page 3)
Kingfisher Trust Donates.. (From page 2)
next year when the organisation would start classes for training students in the repairs and
maintenance of computers, office equipment (printers-photo copiers-typewriters) and sewing
machines.
Kingfisher Trust will also host three professional UAFA football coaches in the first week of February next
year. These coaches will train trainers and students across country. Kingfisher Trust would formally open the
Pirang Day Care Centre at the end of January next year.
The day care centre which is now part of the World Food Programme facilities has kitchen, toilet facilities,
store, room and parlour for the Administrator. The release stated that a two-classroom extension block for nursery
stages 2 and 3 is also nearing completion in Manduar village.
This building is funded by the VSO and Kingfisher Trust. The release pointed out that the Kingfisher Trust will
be funding the building of a four-room accommodation block for teachers of the Julangel skill centre in the URD.
The release noted Kingfisher Trust would provide loans, and a generator for a welder in the area for the metal
workshop.
Many other projects Kingfisher Trust plans include the improvement of schools, providing extra training projects
such as tie and dye, sewing and knitting.
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