Vision Development Foundation (VDF) spent over D5 Million Dalasi on charities for the needy during the 2024 Ramadan said Mr Saihou Fofana, the Foundation's PRO during an interview with the Press at the last day of their Ramadan Charity givings at their branch office in Churchill's Town, Serrekunda on Monday, 8 April 2024.
Mr Fofana also added that 27 Cattles were offered by the Foundation as charity nationwide for the needy communities targetted to benefit from VDF gifts from various parts of The Gambia. He said this year they did the formalities of bull slaughtering at Abuko for those living in the Greater Banjul Areas, and for those in the provinces they provide them cattles at their various locations to ease the burden of transportation.
The VFD PRO said since the beginning of the Ramadan they have been supporting needy people who came to them for support in the name of their Chief Executive Officer -Mr Momodou Turo Darboe, who single handedly has been the one sponsoring everything. He said about 3000 to 4000 people turn up for the Monday Ramadan Gifts, being the last day of their Charity giving ceremony this year held at their branch office
Today our CEO gave clothes, cash, and Ramadan Fast breaking food items, such as bread, chicken, rice, sugar, etc. The purpose being anyone who come here go back home with something that make their families happy. Today we have seen that the turn up has increased. Such are indications that there are lot of needy people in the country. But our stands are whoever come here we make so you go home happy with something," he said.
Mr Fofana said they initially allocated D5 Million budgeted for sugar, rice among related food items, but realised that the demand is more than our budget. "But our leaders know that whenever the people increase we have to increase our expenditure, that is why our budget increase to more than D5 Million Dalasis for our Ramadan Gifts this year, ranging from rice, sugar, among related food items.
"We gave out 50,000 bags of sugar in 10 Kilos, but in addition we also gave out lot of 50 Kilos bags of sugar, which indicates increase on our expenditure. We also gave lot of 50 Kilos bags of rice, which are beyond our budgetary line, because if our CEO notice that there is increase in demand he also increase his expenditure." said Mr Fonana.
We know that it will be difficult for the communities to transport cattles from Abuko to their various destinations as we usually do, so we decide to give them cattles at their various locations. We cannot serve all the Villages in The Gambia, but we decide to give all our target beneficiaries food items for their Lailatoul Khadiri and Prayers," he said.
The VDF spokesman further unveiled that their supports are not only limited to Ramadan Charity givings, but also we support education- such as College, University, among other schools; as well supporting communities with boreholes, all single handedly sponsored by the VDF CEO, who has been funding their activities for over 20 years since they started.
This was evident during the second day of the Ramadan Sugar Gifts Ceremony when a group of students forming the Arts Exhibition at the Gambia College who visited VDF Branch Office in Churchill's Town soliciting support from Mr Darboe who donated them D20,000 to complement their transport, and further requested them to write a project proposal and submit to VDF. During their briefings they acknowledged that Mr Darboe has been doing a lot for the College. Mr Fofana also pointed out that Mr Darboe has also extended helping hands to the IT unit of The Gambia College.
He further said they ensured that they gave to various security aparatus in the country, the Area Councils, National Assembly Members, among other institutions, to distribute the charities to their respective communities.
"This year we know services has increased therefore next year we will also increase our budget to suit our operations," he said.
Mr Fofana further said they gave out clothes because their CEO knows that many people don't usually have clothes during Ramadan, so they decide to support the needies with clothes, to make them happy during the feast.
"Our aim is anyone who came to VDF for help is happy. We distributed to all those who come to us regardless of political affiliations.
"We are open to support. Any organisation that want to dig borehole, or give support to your communities we can help. If you don't know how to go about it we can help you.
"VDF is the first NGO in The Gambia that started giving charities openly during Ramadan, but we have seen many people are emulating. Many organisations, Islamic organisations, among others are joining us to support the needy. All those who want to join our organisation or want to stand on your own, or you want to support communities that don't have water we can help you dig borehole and Allah will pay you. If you want to build school we go and help you build the school. That is how we can help The Gambia developed by Gambians, for Gambians. That is the appeal I am giving to everyone. If you don't know how to do it we can saw you how to do it," Mr Fofana concluded.
Beneficiaries interviewed expressed happiness and gratitude to VDF CEO - Momodou Turo Darboe and his team for their generous gestures, prayed for his long life, peace and continued success
Pa Ousman Marong, First Cousin brother of Mr Momodou Turo Darboe, and former Gambia Daily reporter who has been covering the VDF events for many years said the turn out in the last day of the VDF Charities- on 29 of Ramadan is a record number. "People have benefitted very seriously from even what they didn't expect, such as clothes, cooking oil, sugar, dates, chicken,money, etc. The man is great. I have been reporting many times, but today I never seen such turn up. I see all kind of people coming to benefit. Even dogs are coming trying to be friendly to benefit. In fact there is a Ghanaian living around, I asked him whether he have ever seen this he said no. I said this is Momodou Turo Darboe- CEO of Vision Development Foundation, this is his life, he gives. All I can say is Momodou Turo Darboe is Gambia's Sheikh Mbecho Tune. All I can advise is for those who have to emulate Momodou Turo Darboe by helping the needy," Mr Marong said.
Below are Initial Pictures of the 2024
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