Future In Our Hands

Staff of the construction unit embarked on some maintenance work on their project site in the Sandu region Upper River Region North and Tumana district in the south.

Augustine Manneh program officer, and the interns Alfusainey Keita and Lawrence Matthew Mendy, Mamudu

Cessay the MOBSE construction monitor for region six, and Amadou Badjie FIOHTG driver set out for Janjanbureh to inspect the new girl’s dormitory block for Armitage Senior secondary school which was in process. That work had just started and they were working on the foundation and (digging of the trenches).

From there they cross over to the North Bank and headed to the Sandu region. Their first stop was at Demba wandu where they inspected the school building for areas to be repaired which was completed on sight and documented. The other sites visited was Kurau, Sare Fodegeh, Changally, Kuwonku,Sare Demba Toro lower basic schools where defects were detected and documented. At Missira the village technician was consulted to come and fix a door in the office and then the team preceded to the last school to inspect in the Sandu region which was Touba Sandu where no issues were detected and no reparations were necessary. That following day  the team went for Njayel on the south bank of URR to fix two wall switches and one wall socket then cover the distribution box.  On the next day the needed materials (cement, water paint, and paint brushes) were purchased for reparation to plaster some of the pealed walls and paint the unpainted areas. Work was completed in two days.

A maiden Youth Advocacy Sports and ‘bantaba’ was conducted in Chargel cluster in CRR between the 21th –24th of February 2019. The activity included Youth forums where various youth related themes were discussed. The deputy governor, representative of the Regional Education Director, the district chief, as well as the councilor and FIOHTG director and staff, and the chairman of Gambia Groups all graced the activity.  A declaration was made by the youths demanding greater inclusion of the youths in governance, and more employment opportunities, helping them to realize their full potentials.

There was a football tournament for boys and girls comprising 8 boys’ teams and 8 girls’ teams. The first matches on Friday were successful and the suspense was in the air! Both the girls and the boy’s game were played between Bundu Koylel and Bamtaare. After a fair game the girls from Bamtaare won by 3-2 on penalties. The Boys played in the afternoon resulting in1-1 which led to penalties and victory for Bundu Koylel with 5-2. The Football matches continued the following days, ending with the finals, awards and a game between Chargels teachers and the FIOHTG team.

Cultural events and theater were also part of the activities. The cultural events were held to perform and educate the visitors on Chargel’s traditional Fula ceremonies. They were very interesting and well received!

The participating groups and individuals were awarded with certificates to show appreciation. Thanks to the community development unit of FIOHTG, the entire staff, communities and all stakeholders for making this activity a success.

On the 7th and 8th February the staff at FIOHTG underwent a two-day long institutional assessment workshop using the Holistic Organizational Capacity Assessment Instrument (HOCAI). This is a flexible instrument which aims to assists organizations to conduct a self-analysis of their strengths and challenges. The HOCAI can be easily adapted to specific organizational contexts and is used to build a stronger organization. It strives to improve organizational functions, using data, through capacity strengthening and then directs the participants on how to develop an action plan. The assessment was facilitated by one of FIOHTG´s board members, Joanna Mendy from CRS, in the conference hall at FIOHTG and with a majority of the staff form all units participating.

In the HOCAI, there are nine capacity areas, which are broken down into components and portrayed as statements that indicate the organizations capacity. These areas are:

1) Identity and governance, 2) Strategy and Planning, 3) General Management, 4) External Relations and Partnerships, 5) Sustainability, 6) Organizational Learning, 7) Human Resource Management, 8 ) Financial and Physical Resource Management and finally 9) Programming, Services and Results.

The data results provided from the HOCAI will be used by FIOHTG to develop and strengthen the organization further. The action plan created aims to improve performance which will increase our opportunities and performance internally and externally so we can continue to invest in, and collaborate with the marginalized communities in rural Gambia

Between the 28 -31 of January the Monitor & Evaluation (M&E) officer Muhammed Lenn travelled throughout The Gambia, accompanied by the Swedish interns Jeanna Isacson and Dalinne Bojang. The School Development Unit (SDU) at FIOHTG had requested a baseline survey to establish the status of education in the selected schools before intervening since SDU is tasked with the responsibility of promoting quality and relevant education.

SDU will continue to be involved in the selected clusters, especially in rural areas which are the most vulnerable, to promote quality and relevant education in schools. The participating schools in this study were Samba Chargel and Maria Samba Nyadoh (North Bank Region 3), Darsilami and Nyawurulung (Region 4), Chargel (Region 5) and Kisskiss (region 6)

The M&E team had the main task of collecting baseline data for the SDU, which was done by direct questions to the principles and five of the teachers whom also served as respondents together with an observation checklist for the school facilities. The baseline survey provided and established information on quality, relevance, enrolment and retention rates at schools under study. This data is to be used for follow up interventions and to track changes. 

In the schools there was a positive student-textbook ratio and in Darsilami, full cycle school, the national results were exceptional. However, the majority of the schools faced challenges with quality assistance for children with special needs, adequate benches and sustainable food provision. Furthermore, in Nyawurulung, lower basic school, they are facing severe issues with water and sanitation, which affects the children’s education and the teachers working environment. There are many important factors to why a baseline survey needs to be done before intervening, become aware of the issues that the schools are facing and therefore take the appropriate actions for informed decision-making

Happy New Year to our members, followers and supporters!

We wish you a successful and peaceful 2019 and hope you will join us to make this year even better for our organization and Gambia as a whole.

Please continue read our articles online and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook where we post regular updates with photos!

Content

• Village Development Committee Training
• CTU’s new commitment for school expansions
• Monitor and Evaluation Framework Validation
• Waste Management Training

See attached file for Newsletter: Newsletter December 2018.2

 Content

• FIOHTG on a study tour to the Songhai Centre in Benin
• Construction follow up after one year
• Training on HRBA at the FIOHTG office
• Agricultural training with CDU

See attached file for the newsletter: Newsletter November 2.1 2018

 Content

• SDU at FIOHTG collecting data and need assessment in the North Bank Region
• FIOHTG is coordinating leadership training
• TANGO meeting with IMF
• The New Swedish intern
• Interface dialogue for democratic development between duty bearers and right holders

See attached file for the newsletter: Newsletter October 2018

Content

• Forum Syd visit to evaluate the work of FIOHTG
• Several National Endowment for Democracy (NED) activities conducted last months
• The construction unit at FIOHTG held meeting with contractors
• The annual audit report is being conducted at FIOHTG
• Afrikaada Teeth Savers on fieldtrip

See attached file for the newsletter: Newsletter March 2018

Content

• FIOHTG staff plans the next Country Strategy Plan (CSP) 2018-2022
• The construction unit at FIOHTG are building new toilets
• The School Development Unit at FIOHTG informed about civic rights and duties
• New Swedish intern at FIOHTG
• FIOHTG are planning to phase in new communities to support

See attached file for the newsletter: Newsletter February 2018