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Handing Over Ceremony
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
At The Book Production Premises in Kanifing.

Introduction
For the fifth year in a row, Gambia Health Education Liaison Project, also known as GambiaHELP,has shipped a container full of books, computers and school supplies to The Gambia. GambiaHELP is a USA-based non-profit making organization located in Seattle, Washington, As of this year, GambiaHELP has donated 80,000 books to the country’s schools, libraries, university and college. Shelby Tarutis, Director of GambiaHELP, stated that the books have been distributed throughout the 6 Educational Regions in The Gambia. In addition to the Book Project they are investigating women’s small business enterprise development, funding a 6-acre irrigation system for a women’s garden and transforming several classroom blocks into functioning libraries.

Ceremony
The formal handing over ceremony to the Department of State for Education took place on Wednesday March 23, 2005, at 10.30 a.m. at the Book Production Premises in Kanifing. It was well attended by officials for the Department of State for Education, teachers, University of the Gambia Vice Chancellor and staff, Peace Corps staff, Rotary Club members, school children, staff of NGO’s, religious leaders and community members.The ceremony began with Muslim prayers by Alhagie Yaya Touray. Pastor Louis Prom offered Christian prayers. Mrs. Dusu Sima, representative of the Director of Education, Region One chaired the ceremony. In her opening remarks she welcomed all the invited guest and school children that were present and thanked them for taking time off their busy schedules to be there.

Ms. Shelby Tarutis, Director GambiaHELP informed the gathering that the organization grew from her Peace Corps experience during which she was posted at Dankunku, Central River Division in 1980. GambiaHELP’s mission she said is to support health and education projects and build sustainability using grassroots approach to program development. She highlighted some of Gambia Help’ s achievements as follows:

		Work in collaboration with government, schools, community groups & villagers.
		Built partnership with others including rotary club of Fajara.
		Set up two computer labs at Armitage & Nusrat Senior Secondary Schools.
		Worked with women’s groups in the areas of self sufficiency.
		Developed libraries.
		Delivered 80,000 books to all six regions of the education sector.
		Sent in containers of educational supplies & computers.
		Desks & several bookcases for a library project in Sofanyama School in Central River Division (CRD).
		Distribute penpal letters from Washington & Oregon states in the United States.

Shelby commended the Head of State for championing Girls’ Education. She challenged everyone present to ask themselves what positive difference can they make in the lives of others.
Finally she thanked everyone for coming.

In her remarks Diana Sloane, Peace Corps Country commended Shelby for her numerous contributions in the areas of education and health. She also thank Shelby for providing much needed resources in the country.

Before giving the floor to the Guest Speaker, the local kora musical entertainment was provided by Jaliba Kuyateh a popular Gambia musician, who hailed for Dankunku, CRD.

Deputizing for the Secretary of State For Education, Mr. Kunkung Jobarteh, Deputy Permanent Secretary said that GambiaHELP is truly and sincerely helping the Gambia both in the attainment of educational excellence and contributing to reduce poverty among the most vulnerable groups – the women. He went on to say that education and health are the ingredients for national development and. He said education is the development of the human resources and good health enhances good living and participation of the human resources in development work. Consequently any group that endeavors to facilitate education and health in the country needs commendation and recognition for its efforts. He thanked GambiaHELP profusely for their efforts. He also mentioned the fact that the Director of GambiaHELP was a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia, who familiarized herself with burning issues then at the end of her service desired to contribute and participate in the development of the country. This he said gave birth to GambiaHELP.

The Vote of thanks was given by Ms. Kumuna Jallow of Sanchaba who first of all dilated on the achievements of GambiaHELP before thanking all the guests and school children for attending the ceremony.

Kabafita Lower Basic School presented a song as part of their contribution in the handing over ceremony.

The Director of GambiaHelp the officially handed over to the Deputy Permanent Secretary (DOSE). He thanked her again for the kind gesture. This was followed by more entertainment by Jaliba Kuyateh. The ceremony ended with a reception.

Press coverage
The following Press Houses provided coverage for the event:

1. The Gambia Radio and Television Services
2. Sud FM
3. Observer Newspaper
4. The Point Newspaper
5. Independent Newspaper

A Video recording was of the ceremony was made.
A photographer was also invited to take pictures.

The ceremony was well organized and was a great success. The books, educational supplies and computers will go a long way in addressing the shortage of educational resources in our education system. The students who attended were each presented with a book of their choice to read.