CAN organises Ramadan Iftar Distribution 2024

Charity Action Network (CAN) – a charity and non-profit organisation based in the Gambia to provide support for less privileged and vulnerable women, children and humanity at large have again rendered its charity service during the HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN, 2024.

Since the inception of the organisation, CAN has annually organised and provided ‘Iftar’ during the month of Ramadan. This serves as a way of giving back to society by providing and distributing foods and water (Iftar) for people to have something to break their fast with.

This initiative is motivated by several reasons, including serving humanity, and more specifically, by providing these foods (Iftar) to our Muslim brothers and sisters who can easily find something good to break their fast with.

CAN Volunteers prepare and cook the food

Check out our photos of the volunteers and watch our videoclips below of the women preparing the food!

The Iftar distribution is part of our annual routine during the Holy Month of Ramadan, as mentioned earlier, and CAN partnered with volunteers, companies and organisations in making this Iftar possible.

If you wish to support our actions in any way in the future, you can find our contact details by clicking here

CAN volunteers clean-up ahead of OIC summit 2024

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation Gambia Secretariat and its partners organised a clean-up exercise ahead of the 15th edition of the Islamic Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held this year in May in Gambia.

Many CAN volunteers participated in this clean-up. This is part of their ongoing contributions to supporting and improving the country, by cleaning from the well-known Turntable area to the OIC Building area in Senegambia.

Their efforts were recognised and thanked by Ambassador Essa Bokarr Sey in a Facebook post. He pointed out how the young ladies had approached him with their offer of help and he was happy put them in touch with the organisers.

CAN supports Gambian youth with the Summer Basketball Event

In a initiative aimed at assisting underprivileged Gambian school children and students, the Summer Basketball Event took place on 19 August. This event was organised by CAN and numerous dedicated individuals who are concerned about the welfare of young learners. The primary objective of the event was therefore to provide essential educational resources, including uniforms, school supplies, and books, to ensure that they would be ready for the upcoming school year, commencing in September.

Preparing for school

Each young person attending school is required to have a school uniform, typically consisting of at least two sets, along with suitable school shoes. Furthermore, it is worth noting that many Gambian schools enforce specific colour codes for uniforms, often opting for black or white attire. Additionally, the cost associated with acquiring exercise books and reading materials can pose a significant burden for these students.

Education in Gambia

While the majority of educational institutions in Gambia are coeducational and publicly funded, historical exceptions like Saint Augustine and Gambia High cater to single-gender students. Public schools in Gambia face notable challenges in delivering quality education, primarily due to limited financial resources. Events like the Summer Basketball Event play an instrumental role in bridging this educational gap.

A joyous summer celebration

Despite a brief interruption owing to the rainy season, the event transformed into a joyous summer celebration for all the young people attending. The participants had the privilege of witnessing the basketball skills of players from the Gambia Basketball Federation, who also shared valuable insights with these future talents.

Community support and generosity

None of this would have been possible without the generous contributions and support of many individuals and organisations alike, e.g. Africell, for instance, who stepped forward to provide free T-shirts for the event.

Conclusion

The Summer Basketball Event was a shining example of a community coming together to support its most vulnerable members. By providing essential school materials, this event ensured that many children will be able access education by being properly equipped. This is a first to opening doors to a brighter future for them.

CAN meets up with SCSS women beneficiaries

Charity Action Network (CAN) recently convened a meeting with various women who are beneficiaries of the Start-up Capital Support Service (SCSS) on 12 July 2023.

The primary objective of this gathering was to assess the impact of the loans given to these women in bolstering their businesses and enhancing their overall livelihoods. The event also aimed to comprehend the challenges these women face in their business ventures and to discuss potential solutions.

Fatou Sarjo, a market vendor at the Bakoteh Fish Market and one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude at the event. She underscored the transformative role that CAN's financial aid has played in her business, her personal life, and the well-being of her family.

A prevailing sentiment among the beneficiaries was an appeal for an enlargement or increment in the loan provision. This stems from the shared challenges numerous women encounter in the business realm. Another beneficiary, Cessay Nding, remarked, "By broadening the scope of the loan service, the Charity Action Network could profoundly benefit even more women, thereby enriching their lives and those of their families."

In response to such feedback, CAN, steadfast in its commitment to assist the underprivileged and vulnerable women, earnestly calls upon donors and partners to collaborate. Their collective support for the SCSS programme has the potential to create a significant and lasting impact on many lives through this initiative.

You can find our contact details by clicking here

CAN’s ESS Programme organises 'Back to School' Summer Basketball Day Sale

Empowerment through education

Education should be available for all children. It is the backbone of a progressive society and the ladder out of poverty for many. Recognising this powerful tool, the Charity Action Network (CAN) has dedicated itself to making sure every child gets the chance to study, dream, and achieve. But every child needs the right material support too if they are to have an equal chance.

To further our mission, CAN is excited to announce the 'Back to School' fundraising initiative. And what better way to celebrate than with a Summer Basketball Day Sale? Basketball, often considered the sport of hope, perfectly aligns with our mission of bringing hope and opportunity to the less fortunate.

Here's what you can expect:

Date: 19 August from 2pm.
Location: The fundraiser is set to take place at the vibrant KMC Africell Park.
Food and Drinks: Dive into a range of mouthwatering delights and refreshing beverages, all for sale. Every bite you take and every sip you drink contributes directly to our cause.
Basketball: demonstrations, merchandise, teeshirts, etc. there'll something for everyone. Full details to announced here soon!

The money raised from this event will be used for purchasing school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and other essentials for the children supported by our ESS programme.

Join us

Come shoot some hoops, enjoy delicious food, and most importantly, be a beacon of hope for a child's educational journey. Let's come together and make a difference.

CAN organises Ramadan Iftar Distribution 2023

Since the inception of the organisation, CAN annually organises and provides ‘Iftar’ during the month of Ramadan. This serves as a way of giving back to society by providing and distributing foods and water (Iftar) for people to have something to break their fast with.

This initiative is motivated by several reasons, amongst which is serving humanity, and more specifically, by providing these foods (Iftar) to our Muslim brothers and sisters who can easily find something good to break their fast with.

The Iftar drive-by distribution is part of our annual routine during the Holy Month of Ramadan, as mentioned earlier, and CAN has partnered with individuals, companies and organisations in making this Iftar distribution possible. Therefore, as a recognised reputable charity organisation, we still look forward to collaborating with more donors, volunteers or any interested party in increasing the Iftar packages for the upcoming yearly month of Ramadan.

You can find our contact details by clicking here

CAN - an intermediary channel between local women and central government

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME This is an initiative organised by the Charity Action Network to create a platform for dialogue between women and the government. As an organisation that represents and empowers women, we believe we have a role to play in organising a forum where on the one hand, women can communicate their challenges, and where the government, on the other, can listen and highlight the concerns of these women..

This noble meeting was a great success, as it was attended by a large number of women from various communities. They were grateful and thanked the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Charity Action Network, Mrs Kaddija Barry Demba, for coming up with such an initiative, creating an arena where they are given the opportunity to discuss issues affecting them.

The meeting was also attended by a high-ranking delegate representing various ministries. Our Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr Demba Sabally, spoke about His Excellency Adama Barrow’s led government, its commitment, and programmes for women in general through the Ministry of Women's Affairs and other ministries as well. He further stated why people should vote for the National People's Party (NPP), as it is committed to effective development. Other ministers and delegates present were the Minister of Justice, Honourable Dawda Jallow, Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Works and Infrastructure, and Mr Lamin Saidy, Presidential Adviser.

CAN in the media - International Women's Day interview on GRTS TV

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th to commemorate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and to raise awareness of the ongoing struggles for gender equality.

CAN's Absa Njie, Social Media Manager, in charge of creating content and managing CAN's social media profiles, was interviewed on GRTS TV's The Balance to talk about CAN's work providing an array of welfare services for women and children etc.

You can watch the interview by logging on to Facebook and clicking here

CAN in action - Tanji Fish Market

The CAN team members recently took a trip to Tanji to interview a few women on the financial struggles that majority of Gambians have been experiencing and whether they think CAN can help relieve some of the burden with our integrated farming idea.

These hardworking women were very vocal about how prices of basic goods have shot up in the past years and as a result, they were forced to do the same with the items they were selling. The idea of integrated farming was deemed a great solution to their current problems.

The team consisted of Kaddijatou Barry Demba, Modou Barry, Muhammed Seedy Njie and Absa Njie.

CAN in action - Christmas Bake Sale 2022

Shown below are pictures from one of our fundraisers this year, our Christmas Bake Sale. All proceeds from events such as this one goes towards the annual Iftar Distribution we have during the holy month Ramadan.

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