The Gambia- Example
RURAL ORPHANS CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION (ROCA)
HISTORY
The idea of establishing Rural Orphan Charitable Association (ROCA) was conceived of by the present Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Lamin Sanyang while he was in the far end province of Jarra East in Lower River Region of the Gambia, in the village of Sutukung in 1992. At first, it was designed to help the most deprived and disadvantaged within the rural setting with education, caring and support for the orphans and windows.
Teaching at a private owned Arabic/ Islamic School in Sutukung, the founder then wrote to the Regional Education office in Mansankonko in Region four (4), who came to their aid and donated tables and benches for the school. This motivated the founder to approach the Lebanese Community residing in The Gambia to support what could be described as a noble gesture by catering for the orphans and widows. The Lebanese Community also added on to the motivating factors for the strengthening of ROCA by donating food items to the neediest, not forgetting the deprived and disadvantaged within the Community School of Sutukung and Keneba in Kiang West District.
During the holy months and other Islamic festivities, the Lebanese Community took it upon themselves to cater through ROCA to the needy within the communities. Since then, they have annually provided clothes during the two most celebrated holidays of the Islamic Calendar. In 2003, ROCA got officially registered with Attorney Generals Chambers that has given it the right to operate and provide humanitarian services within The Gambia.
After the registration, ROCA rented an office complex and started collaborating with other national and international organizations that shared the same values with them or have similar objectives. Among these organizations are Muslim Aid UK and IHH.
In partnership with Muslim Aid UK, ROCA implemented the Orphans and Widows Care Project; in which we assisted with the feeding, home caring, schooling, medication of the orphans and supported foster parents. We also supported widows in terms of skills development and training. Muslim Aid UK helped ROCA provide sacrificial lambs for Eid Adha (Qurbani) to support those Muslim families that cannot afford an animal during the feast of Eid Adha.
It was a natural step for ROCA to liaise with Libyan International Islamic Society through the Libyan Ambassador to The Gambia after being supported by the Libyan Diaspora. The organisation provided us with clothes to distribute to the poor and the needy.
Finally, ROCA partnered with the Regional AIDS Committee of KMC through National Aid Secretariat (NAS) to also help in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. Resources mobilized were used to sensitize widows and other women about the basic facts on HIV/ AIDS and its spreads.
VISION
To help overcome the plight of orphans and widows.
MISSION
To collaborate with potential partners to provide basic humanitarian services to relieve the plight of orphans and widows.
GOALS
To educate, care, train and support both orphans and widows to live a decent life.
OBJECTIVES
1) To support the education, caring, training and counselling of orphans to be able live a better life.
2) To establish Schools (Quran memorization/ orphanages) to help orphans who may not afford to attend other institutions because of the cost.
3) To provide skills training opportunities for widows in a way to improve their living conditions for self - reliance.
4) To take active part in all other Social, Economic and Culture activities to relieve the suffering of poor orphans and widows.
CONTACT
CEO: Mr. Lamin Sanyang
PMB: 54 Banjul,
The Gambia,
West Africa.
Tel: +2209829025
Financial Director: Mr. Lamin Saidybah
Tel: +02206996537
E-mail: rocagam@yahoo.com
