By: Kemo Kanyi
Child Fund of The Gambia has donated 1,040 bicycles to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for onward distribution to schools in the regions.
The handing over ceremony was held at the Child Fund head office in Kanifing on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The initiative is to ease the burden on children who travel long distances to school.
The bikes are procured under the Zero Out of School Children (ZOOSC) project funded by the Education Above All Foundation through UNICEF, who partners with Child Fund, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), and Education for All Campaign Network (EFaNET Gambia) in the implementation of the three-year project.
Musu Kuta Comma, Country Director of Child Fund, revealed that the organization’s goal is to ensure that all the remaining out-of-school children in The Gambia are enrolled in quality primary education and thus supporting the attainment of the ‘Zero Out of School Children’ goal.
Child Fund presented 3000 bicycles towards the project. MOBSE data revealed that some children are out of school because they lack transport means to school. And we believe that bicycles will ease that barrier, hence, will contribute to the enrolment goal. The first consignment of 500 bikes was handed over to MOBSE in December 2023, followed by a second consignment of 1000 bikes handed over in August 2024. Today, we are handing over 1,040. They are brand-new, high-quality bikes that will no doubt serve the intended purpose,” Madam Comma said. The remaining 500 bikes will be provided and handed over to the ministry in due course.
Emily Jobe, education manager at UNICEF, Adama Jimba Jobe, deputy permanent secretary, MoBSE, and Momodou G. Jallow, regional education director for region 4, all extend appreciation to the efforts by the Child Fund Banjul office in enabling children to realise their potential, especially in the area of education.
