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AL-MADINAH
FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND RELIEF IN THE GAMBIA
(AFERGAM)
OVERVIEW:
Over the past fifteen years, many new Charitable and None-Governmental
Organizations are emanating from able Gambians themselves who may in one way or
the other worked for various institutions, government bodies or they may have
travel abroad where they gathered experiences and are willing to make marks in
the country�s development history, by contributing their quota in the interest
of nation building. Among such new aspiring development oriented organizations
is Al-Madinah Foundation. This foundation is the brain child of some few
Gambians who where one time chanced to per sue their Higher Arabic/Islamic education
in Al-Madinatu-L-Munawarah, after which, they are now back in the Gambia to
join others in and outside this country to help in the realization of the
development aspirations of this country, the Gambia.
The foundation was officially registered with the Attorney
Generals Chamber as a Charitable Community Based Organization on the 28th.
Day of December 2005. Since then, the foundation leaves no stone unturned to
help the education sector and other relief programmes. The foundation is well
recognized by the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council, The Ministry of Basic and
Secondary Education through it department responsible for Arabic and Islamic
Education in the Gambia and all other relevant authorities concerned. The
foundation wish to establish its own head quarters where they could be carrying
out all the activities of the organization, which includes among other things
advocacy, the education and relief supports to the needy and deserving within
the communities.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT:
The idea of establishing Al-Madinah Foundation was conceived
of by group of young energetic Gambians who upon their completions of their
degree programmes in the holy city of Almadinah in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
returned home with the zeal of helping to contribute their individual and
collective quota in the development arena of this country by chosen basic
government priority areas of intervention and collaborate with potential
partners around the globe to mitigate the most urgent needs of the communities
they live in. Legally, the organization was registered and recognized by all
relevant authorities in the country and since then, it has been playing pivotal
roles in the promotion and management of seven Arabic/Islamic schools in the
country, conducting Islamic propagation in the form of a convoy, touring more
than one hundred and twenty (120) villages of the Gambian provinces, which has
resulted to more than twenty five none Muslims to accept and converted to
Islam.
The foundation also embarked upon organizing study programmes
for youths, imams and women, to enhance them learn about their religion and for
them to be able to actively take part in all Islamic activities and its
propagations within the country. Leaflets and small literatures on Islam were
also distributed within the length and breath of this country, courtesy of the
Foundation Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
and African Muslim Agency, Gambia office. As part of its advocacy programmes,
two weekly radio programmes on the topics; �Islamic Cooperation in Work of
Charities� and �Islamic Forum� at Hilltop FM radio on Mondays and at FMB on
Fridays respectively are aired. Lectures are also organized on various topics and
issues relevant to region and developments, such as; the dangers of drugs and
terrorize actions, co-existence of Muslims and none Muslims in the Gambia and
also visiting the sick at the hospitals.
The foundation has also embarked upon some form of humanitarian
assistances to the most deserving and needy people within the communities.
Among such good will gesture is the sponsoring of more than twenty five(25)
poor families, fifty ( 50) orphans, and ten (10) families during their fire
accidents, drilling five (5) water wells for different communities. During
feasts such as the Idul-Adha, two hundred (200) heads of sheep were distributed
to the poor and needy, while in the holy month of fasting; five hundred (500)
packages of if tar (meals for breaking fast) were given to the poor, not
forgetting to help the widows and disables. The foundation in its striving has
set it self the following dreams to be achieve in the course of time:
VISION:
To reveal the good will nature of Islam to all corners of the
Gambia and beyond.
MISSION:
To collaborate with potential partners and use acceptable Islamic
principles to helped in the development of the Gambia and beyond.
GOAL(s):
To improved the living standard of all Gambians without discrimination.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
1.
To build the foundation�s head quarters, which will
house a resource and educational center for the various activities of the
foundation before end 2017.
2.
To increase our provisions of humanitarian services
such as school fees, if tar, water wells, helping widows, orphans and poor families
to ten percent (10%) within the next five years.
3.
To operationalized five regional offices for the
regional activities of the foundation and continue on the advocacy in a bid to
sell our works before end 2017.
JUSTIFIOCATION:
Decades of drought leading to low and uneven rainfall
distribution has caused a sharp declined in agricultural production with a
corresponding drop in rural income levels over the past three decades.
Agriculture is the main source of employment and food supply for the rural
population; 86.4% of rural women are subsistence farmers. The decline in
production particularly groundnut, the main cash crop, has both social and
economic consequences for the country. Specifically, this decline has had
serious negative consequences on rural household incomes; thus, inhibiting
their ability to pay for the cost of social services such as health and
education user fees. In the recent past, the decline in production has also
resulted in an acceleration of rural � urban migration, and an increase in the
incidence of poverty that has also adversely affected the national food
security as well as the status of nutrition.
The population of the Gambia, 96% of which is Muslims and the
remaining mostly Christians, 15% comprised of a number of ethnic groups.
Culturally, the Gambia is a paternalistic, male � dominated society, where
women have little decision � making power. Women are value for their fertility
and it is generally accepted by both men and women that the socio � economic
status of women is inferior to that of men. Traditional beliefs and customs are
very strong, especially in the rural areas, and male � child preference leads
couples to continue having children in a attempt to fulfill their desire to have
sons for inheritance purposes.
According to the 1993 population census, The Gambia�s
population was estimated at 1,038,145 with an annual growth rate of 4.2%
between 1963 and 1983, the population doubled. If the percent growth rate
remains unchanged, the population will double in 16.5 years time. The light
population growth rate can be attributed largely to high fertility rates, a
decline in morality and high levels of migration.
The Gambia has a youthful population with 50.4% of its,
population under age 18years.only 3.2% of the population were 65years and above
in the 1993 census. This gives rises to a very high dependency ration, as
almost half of the population has to work to support the other half. Large
number of children is still highly valued by most women in the Gambia,
particularly in the rural areas.
The movement of population is mainly due to a search for
employment and disillusionment with the poor prospects of economically viable
agriculture. The rural � urban and international migration pressure created
heavier demands on social services such as schools, health services, water and
electricity supply, as well as the capacity of town and sub � urban Center�s to
manage sanitation and waste disposal. The inability to adequately meet these needs
has resulted in the spread of sub � urban, shanty towns with inadequate water
supply, pool sanitation and disease outbreak.
In the past, the river Gambia was extensively used as a means
of transportation. However, this made of transportation has ceased despite its
potentials as an alternative means of transportation. There is only one mail
tarmac road some 480 kilometer long that runs through the South bank of the
country. However, the government constructed another 48 kilometer tarmac road
with a bridge on the North Bank. All other roads in rural areas are latrines
roads. Some of these roads become impassable during the rainy season, thus,
creating problems of accessibility and distribution of products and merchandise
for the greater part of the country. In addition, outreach clinics for
antenatal care and vaccinations for children are cancelled during the rains.
Under normal circumstances, patient evacuation by road, particularly for high �
risk pregnant women and sick children, is very difficult. This situation
worsens during the rainy season.
The main features of the Gambia�s economy are its small size,
its narrow economic base its heavy reliance on agriculture and on a limited
number of cash crops, mainly groundnuts. Consequently the economy is quite
vulnerable to the vagaries of the climate and to the price changes in
international markets for this produce.
Nearly 60% of arable land is used for agriculture
cultivation. This crops accounts for 75% of domestic exports. Agriculture is
the mainstay, of the economy, with more than 70% of the population engaged in
farming, including livestock rearing and groundnut cultivation. However,
agriculture productivity has declined over the years as a result of drought,
poor agricultural practices and low producer price. The agriculture base is
narrowly diversified. One important sector is the fisheries. The Gambia has a
shallow continental shelf of 3,855 square kilometers and is considered to be an
important fishing zone. Artisan fishery, both at the Atlantic coast and in land
is estimated to employ as many as 20,000nationals. The fisheries sector has
become an important foreign exchange earner with export earnings estimated at
US$ 2, million annually. Currently, the fisheries industry is threatened by
coastal erosion particularly in the fish landing sites of Brufut, Tanji,
Tujereng, Sanyang, Gunjur and Kartong. The infrastructures of these sites are
affected by increased marine erosion due to sand mining along the coast.
The industrial sector is very small and accounts for less
than 8% of the GDP. Manufacturing activities are limited to light industries
such as groundnut milling, bread baking, brewing food processing and the
production of bricks, soaps and plastics. These sectors provide employment for
less than 3% of the Coventry�s labor force.
Tourism has become an important source of income for the
Gambia. In 1990 to 1991 the government collected about D48 million (US$ 5.3
million) in direct and indirect taxes from tourism investment in hotels along
the coast. There are 15 modern hotels and a number of them face serious beach
erosion. In some hotels like the Palm Grove and Tropic Gardens, the beach has
already disappeared. Remedial engineering work in an attempt to arrest and
rehabilitate coastal, erosion has recently been undertaken by the Government
Tourism and commerce provide employment for more than 2 percent of the labor
forces on a seasonal basis.
The activities in commerce depend heavily on the re-export of
goods to the neighboring Senegal and other West African countries. The
re-export trade�s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined in
the recent past and is vulnerable to the economic policies of the neighboring
countries. The devaluation of the currency of the French speaking West African
countries in 1994 and the close of the Gambia � Senegal border have affected
the re-export trade severely and by extension, the economic activity and
livelihood of many Gambians, especially in the informal sector.
Despite the achievements on the Marco � economic from the
Gambia still rank low in its social indicators. At present, the country is
among the least developed, ranking 165 out 185 countries in the Human
Development Report of 1997 with an estimated per capita income of US%320. life
expectancy was estimated at 55 years, infant maternal mortality were high of
84%100 and 150% 100,000 live births respectively forty percent of the
population was below the food poverty line According to an ILO study (see Ahmed
at al. 1992) illiteracy remained high of
75%. The negative impact of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) was greatest
on the poorer section of the population. The health and education sector were
more vulnerable to the structural changes as shown by the following:
� Levels of
utilization of health services fell in the immediate wake of the introduction
of the user charges in 1989.
� Purchase of
Educational resources becomes less affordable.
� The removal of
subsidies on agricultural products and fertilizers adversely affected the
quantity of crops produced (food crops in particular). This led to reduced food
availability and price increases in staple foods; and,
� Reduction in
numbers of the work forces affected many poor homes, as the only breadwinner in
a family no longer has the capacity to earn a living.
In addition to consolidate the gains of the economic reforms
started under the ERP and to reverse the decline in the quality of the social
services, the Gambia Government affected the programme for sustainable
Development. One of the key element of this programme is sustainable
development, that is, economic management that ensures improved standard of
living, financial policies that will not burden future generations, including
the environment, and equitable distribution of the gains from economic and
landscaping development with a human face�. This programme for Sustainable
Development (PSD) also emphasizes a private sector led growth. It is evident
that PSD was designed to encourage private enterprise development through
second economic policies which is why NGO, CBO and private individuals are
taken active part in the development process (situational analysis of children
and women 1998).
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