Thursday 14 December 2006 - 09.00hrs
His Excellency Tamsir Jallow, the High Commissioner for The
Gambia, will be visiting Avon Fire & Rescue Service, Temple
Back, Bristol on Friday 15 December at 10.30hrs.
Tamsir Jallow will be visiting AF&RS to formally launch ‘The
Ultimate Challenge’, to receive equipment and to acknowledge the
efforts of Gambia & Avon Fire Services in Partnership (GAFSIP)
charity and other partners in assisting Gambian people.
At 2pm His Excellency will address Avon Fire Authority -
thanking the elected members and Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive
for their continued support for the 15-year fire service
partnership, that now also embraces education and health.
Speaking of the occasion His Excellency Tamsir Jallow said:
"GAFSIP is a charitable organisation which has grown and developed
from the partnership between Avon Fire & Rescue Service and The
Gambia Fire and Ambulance Service over the last 15 years.
"Part of GAFSIP’s work aims to advance all aspects of education
and preserve and protect health. I am aware of the books and IT
equipment that we have identified as being of need by schools,
institutions and communities. I have noted that the involvement of
GAFSIP into education has aided The Gambia Fire and Ambulance
Service by becoming recognised as a true community service
provider. I have also noted that GAFSIP’s work in The Gambia is
producing real results with libraries being built, school furniture
being distributed and IT equipment being provided. It is with great
delight to note the twinning programmes that have been developed
between schools in The Gambia and the former Avon area - benefiting
both cultures.
"I can state that over 30,000 children have benefited to date
from the educational support and 36 schools have received
educational materials. This is a most remarkable and praiseworthy
achievement by a small band of volunteers that has developed from
this professional partnership between two fire
services"