The Bakoteh Shelter for Children and Home for Elderly Improvement Project was handed over on Wednesday, August 7th, to the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare. The ceremony was graced by the First Lady, Fatou Bah Barrow, Hon. Fatou Kinteh, and senior staff of the ministry. This rehabilitation project, which was commissioned at the request of Her Excellency the First Lady, started in 2023 and was fully funded by the Government of China. In her keynote address, the First Lady, Fatou Bah Barrow, said this gesture is a testament to the strength of our bilateral relations and the shared commitment to the development and well-being of our people. “The infrastructure we are receiving today will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on our vulnerable children, whether in protection, education, healthcare, infrastructure, or other critical sectors that will enhance their quality of life. She asserted that it is through such acts of generosity that we can continue to build a brighter and more prosperous future for our nations. She explained that the Gambia has embarked on a journey of transformation, striving to improve the lives of our citizens to ensure sustainable development. “This journey is made possible through partnerships and cooperation with nations that share our vision and values. China’s role in this journey has been invaluable, providing us with the tools, expertise, and support needed to drive progress,” she noted.
She applauded the government of China for their magnificent gesture.
In her statement, the Hon. Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare Fatou Kinteh emphasized that the shelter represents more than just a building, adding that it is a sanctuary for the Gambia, providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children who will shape the destiny of this great nation. “It is our hope that this facility will continue to serve as a beacon of hope, offering protection, care, and the opportunity for a brighter future to the children who need it most.”
She further pointed out that this improvement project is a direct result of the collaborative efforts between our government of the Gambia and the government of the People’s Republic of China, reflecting our shared commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable members of society. “It is a project that symbolizes the strong ties of friendship and mutual support between Banjul and Beijing,” she concludes. She said the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia has always been a regular and significant partner to the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare by providing support such as the donation of medicines, food, school supplies, and free health check-ups for children with special needs, particularly orphans and vulnerable families, which was part of the “Warm Children’s Hearts, a China-Africa Joint Action” campaign, co-hosted by the First Lady of the Republic of China and the First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia.
For her part, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Madam Rohiatou Kah, said we are all gathered to witness a long-awaited event, the handing over ceremony of the Bakoteh Shelter for the Children and Home for the Elderly Improvement project. “This rehabilitation project, which was commissioned at the request of Her Excellency the First Lady, started in 2023 and was fully funded by the Government of China,” she revealed. She explained that the project entails hard landscaping of the premises with concrete slabs for ease of mobility and ecstatic design, adjustment of the shelters’ perimeter fence and installation of barbed wires, and erection of rams for wheelchair users to access the new building housing the elderly.
