By Demba Baldeh Gainako Editor Class of 91 Alumni
One of the biggest assets and the hallmark of a successful educational institution should be its ability to reconnect with its most valuable resource ~ The Alumni Community! Institutions such as Armitage High School admits and graduates thousands of students over the years. The institution doesn’t only educate young men and women, but grooms, nurtures and build them from Adolescents into becoming the most productive part of society. It instills in them values and discipline that conforms to its motto “Enter to learn, Go forth to serve”. The strength and survival instincts of Armitage’s military style discipline is the biggest gift the institution gives to its students.
Giving back to such an institution is often a pride many Alumni always wishes they can be a part of. For some reason, either cultural or some kind of institutional failure, the potentials of the Alumni Communities of Armitage and many other educational institutions in the Gambia have never been fully tapped. Some, at individual levels, once in a while do manage to reach out to the school and support where they can. But the culture of giving back to your educational institution in mass has never been fully exploited.
In August 2021, Armitage class of 91 created a social media WhatsApp group that aimed to reconnect classmates and bring back memories some thirty years after graduation. It was a great idea, and the reunion was overwhelmingly welcomed. Being one of the most practical group of students, the WhatsApp group soon morphed into a competition of practical ideas and actions instead of the usual exchange of endless messages and success stories. Ideas of giving back to the institution and making life for the students better than experienced took the center stage. Spontaneous pledges from group members, started flowing from across the Diaspora and on the ground in the Gambia ranging, from D25,000 ($500) to D3,000 ($60) without any pressure. Within a short period, members of this community had pledged almost D300,000 divided into annual dues and project-based pledges.
The group held its first meeting in Gambia and a bank account was opened with volunteers serving as signatories and project coordinators. Within a month, a project was put together to consult with the school on their immediate needs. The immediate needs were to provide computer equipment; woodwork, metalwork and science related lab equipment. A Projector, and access to the worldwide web among others. The items cost over D200,000 and a presentation date was scheduled. The group through individual leadership and volunteers, scheduled a presentation to the school authorities in Georgetown on August 28th. The execution of the project from start to finish was nothing less than exemplary and a blue print of what implementing a flawless project should look like. There was collective will and desire to deliver services to the much deserving school.
The remarkable results and pride generated by these group of Alumni, soon led to greater ideas. An idea was floated in the forum that the class should remember its fallen colleagues who left families, including young children whose wellbeing and education may be jeopardized due to the unfortunate demise of their breadwinners. This idea, once again was received with overwhelming support and another task force was put together to reach out to the fallen colleagues’ surviving families. It turns out, the class lost five colleagues some of whom left behind 5 to 7 children plus a struggling spouse(s). Once again, people volunteered to collect information on these families and within two weeks a complete data was collected on these colleagues.
The class had noted the names of the fallen colleagues but due to privacy purposes, decided not to publish the names. Each of the families were allocated with D10,000 to either pay for school fees for the children and or support the surviving family members. Further discussion is taking place to consider sponsoring the surviving children through high school.
The idea to support the surviving families of the fallen colleagues many years after they are gone, is simply one of the best humanitarian gestures such a group could come up with. In a poverty ravaged society and culture, families of such fallen citizens are often forgotten and left to fend for themselves. One of the surviving family members who received this token of support, described the gesture as “Timely as the kids’ school fees were due”.
The demonstrable and exemplary implementation of the Class of 91 Alumni project in giving back to Armitage could be considered a ‘blueprint’; where, when a group of citizens put their common interest and desires to deliver services to an institution, the execution couldn’t be any better. While traveling to the presentation, various volunteers were communicating and giving live updates across the country traveling to Armitage on the early morning of August 28th. The presentation and delivery were done the same day and members were able to return to their respective destinations safely. The reception and appreciation by the school authorities and students were heartwarming. Present, were representatives of the Commissioner of CRR, the Local Area Council Executive, representative of the Ministry of Education and the media.
It is my fervent believe that the culture of giving back to institutions and or communities, should be highly encouraged in our society. As they say, “To whom much is given much is expected” Corporate social responsibilities should be encouraged so successful businesses should not only be gifting to politicians and political action groups but to educational institutions, which produces productive citizens.
It would be unfair to conclude this report without mentioning few names of leaders who help execute these two projects… The role of women was center stage as usual… Tida Ceesay is in charge of the finances. Mariama Jagne GAMTEL was instrumental in coordinating the internet connections for the school. Alkali Bah with the Banking Industry continue to be a leader in these projects. Imam Idriss Nderi Sallah was the moral leader. Sillah Conateh, Sheriff Kanyi, Momodou Bah, Kemo Jallow, Dawda Sanyang, Hon Alhagie Mbow, Sheikh Kabiro Jammeh and many others deserve a path on the back. It is hope other Alumni groups will follow the example and give back to Armitage and other schools. To the Gambia Ever true! May the souls of the departed colleagues rest in eternal peace! Media present were QTV, Gainako and GRTS…
By Demba Baldeh Alumni Class of 91