HISTORY
In 1984, SCDG founded the Sajuka Nursery School and Day Care Center (SNS) as a response to the community's demand for educational opportunities for their children, particularly girls and in recognition of the unequal opportunity girls had in relation to boys to gain access to and stay in educational facilities. With the growing demand for education, the school was expanded in 1990 with the construction of three classrooms which allowed for an increase in the school enrollment from 50 to 126. Since its establishment, SNS has enrolled and provided nursery education to approximately 2200 boys and girls.
Realizing this, the Barra community decided to expand the Nursery School system to include the Sajuka Skill Center (SSC) for youths who have had no opportunity to enter in to the formal school system or who have had to drop out of school for a number of reasons including early pregnancy and resorting to employment to help their parents.
The Skill Center was built in 1995 from funds provided by the Foreningen Barraby Skola of Sweden, the Women in Development Project NGO fund Component, the Village initiative Support activity (EDF), GAMTEL, the Barra Community, The Danish Community Development Association and private individuals.
In 2000, Sajuka established its Youth Action Group(Child protection services) which has since then been addressing the needs of children in line with international conventions such as the conventions on the rights of the child calling for an end to all forms of discriminations against children. The SCPS is lifting the status of children and youths and according them the opportunity to enter school and learn the skills which would guarantee better lives in the future.
In collaboration with the national bodies and the Red Cross, Sajuka has embarked upon and scaled up activities regarding HIV/AIDS in order to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among children and youths. At the moment there are 10 grassroots group in different villages in Lower Niumi and the total number of people is 523 age between 12 to 25 years. In June 2004, the Sajuka Community Development Group conducted a research on children with learning disabilities (LD) in five villages of Barra, Essau, Mayamba, Kanuma, and Galoya in the lower Niumi district, North Bank Division. We are on the verge of finalizing a programme of intervention with a view to improving the situation of children with learning disabilities.
September 2005, Sajuka Community Development Group open its new lower basic (primary school) to meet the needs of primary school going children living in Barra, Essau and the surrounding villages. It will also address the needs of children who either do not go to school because of distance and access, majority of the 150 nursery school children who graduate annually from the Sajuka Nursery school. It is open to Gambians and non-Gambians alike.
To sustain itself as a gowning concern, SCDG set up Sajuka Development Center (SDC) to ensure sustainable development of its activities. This sector is involved in income generating Bee keeping, agricultural and production of materials such as Tie and dye, handicraft, collection of fees from students attending this school and mobilizing support locally and abroad. The income raised through these has been estimated at 90, 000 Dalasis. There are four community gardens with the total number of 185 members.
Support in the form of nursery school children provided by private individuals and groups in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, The Gambia and Iceland. With valuable materials mobilized from abroad SCDG has supported the Essau High school, some 8 Junior Secondary and primary schools in Lower and Upper Niumi, the Essau hospital, villages, students, fire disaster victims. It has also supported youth activities as a means of promoting well-being and health.
In 1984, SCDG founded the Sajuka Nursery School and Day Care Center (SNS) as a response to the community's demand for educational opportunities for their children, particularly girls and in recognition of the unequal opportunity girls had in relation to boys to gain access to and stay in educational facilities. With the growing demand for education, the school was expanded in 1990 with the construction of three classrooms which allowed for an increase in the school enrollment from 50 to 126. Since its establishment, SNS has enrolled and provided nursery education to approximately 2200 boys and girls.
Realizing this, the Barra community decided to expand the Nursery School system to include the Sajuka Skill Center (SSC) for youths who have had no opportunity to enter in to the formal school system or who have had to drop out of school for a number of reasons including early pregnancy and resorting to employment to help their parents.
The Skill Center was built in 1995 from funds provided by the Foreningen Barraby Skola of Sweden, the Women in Development Project NGO fund Component, the Village initiative Support activity (EDF), GAMTEL, the Barra Community, The Danish Community Development Association and private individuals.
In 2000, Sajuka established its Youth Action Group(Child protection services) which has since then been addressing the needs of children in line with international conventions such as the conventions on the rights of the child calling for an end to all forms of discriminations against children. The SCPS is lifting the status of children and youths and according them the opportunity to enter school and learn the skills which would guarantee better lives in the future.
In collaboration with the national bodies and the Red Cross, Sajuka has embarked upon and scaled up activities regarding HIV/AIDS in order to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among children and youths. At the moment there are 10 grassroots group in different villages in Lower Niumi and the total number of people is 523 age between 12 to 25 years. In June 2004, the Sajuka Community Development Group conducted a research on children with learning disabilities (LD) in five villages of Barra, Essau, Mayamba, Kanuma, and Galoya in the lower Niumi district, North Bank Division. We are on the verge of finalizing a programme of intervention with a view to improving the situation of children with learning disabilities.
September 2005, Sajuka Community Development Group open its new lower basic (primary school) to meet the needs of primary school going children living in Barra, Essau and the surrounding villages. It will also address the needs of children who either do not go to school because of distance and access, majority of the 150 nursery school children who graduate annually from the Sajuka Nursery school. It is open to Gambians and non-Gambians alike.
To sustain itself as a gowning concern, SCDG set up Sajuka Development Center (SDC) to ensure sustainable development of its activities. This sector is involved in income generating Bee keeping, agricultural and production of materials such as Tie and dye, handicraft, collection of fees from students attending this school and mobilizing support locally and abroad. The income raised through these has been estimated at 90, 000 Dalasis. There are four community gardens with the total number of 185 members.
Support in the form of nursery school children provided by private individuals and groups in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, The Gambia and Iceland. With valuable materials mobilized from abroad SCDG has supported the Essau High school, some 8 Junior Secondary and primary schools in Lower and Upper Niumi, the Essau hospital, villages, students, fire disaster victims. It has also supported youth activities as a means of promoting well-being and health.