The best of feelings is when you are proven to have a FRIEND, a FRIEND that cares, and a FATHER that watches over you!

“It is the eve of the feast, and our Eid Al Fitr commonly called Koriteh was foreseen by the whole SOS village community in Bakoteh and in Basse to be business as usual, with the slight difference that Ramadan will end today, and tomorrow we will go back to having our mid-day family meal together.

That was until like magic in a fairy tale, the big army truck that we have come to recognize so well because this is not the first time we see it drive into the village, appeared at the village gate and hooted to be given access. Wait a minute?! We know this truck! We know where it comes from! And we know who has sent it to come!”

“Our excitement exploded like fireworks across the village; my sisters and brothers run out of every family house, and from the village hut where a hand full of us were playing, to meet the truck. Yahya Jammeh has sent us bulls chanted a group; President Jammeh has sent us bulls for our Koriteh echoed another group, Yehhh! Our Koriteh is going to be great! Some were jumping; others were pushing and shoving one another to have a better view of the offloading of two beautiful and mighty bulls whilst laughing their heart out.

Through all this happy and joyful noise, I could not miss my brothers and sisters who had their hands on their mouth, eyes wide opened with excitement mixed with fear, who were keeping a very safe distance despite the fact that the military mastered the situation and that the offloading process was going on very well as usual.And I could not also miss the smiling faces of our village director, our mothers and aunties.

Our nice surprise and joy has not even started to subside, that the truck came back, and it was full!!. my eyes and fingers could not count the bags of rice and drums of oil that were piling up in the truck, I was trying hard to count then I heard from the army Captain talking with our director “His Excellency Sheikh Prof. Alh. Dr Yahya Jammeh has sent me to bring these 100 bags of rice and 100 drums of oil”. Our hearts were full of joy, our minds were drawing the picture of this big and strong and beautiful friendship between President Yahya Jammeh and us the children of SOS, His children!

From Bakoteh to Basse, our SOS prayer was whole heartedly meant for our FRIEND President Yahya Jammeh and for The Gambia; that:

“May we ever be mindful of all who belong to our Community,

United in spirit we pray to you Good Father in Heaven,

Shelter us in your Hand, and show us always the right path.

You have brought us together; Grant that we may henceforth

Ever serve You with a single heart.

Grant that in our Community Peace and Unity may ever reign

Protect the Children’s Village from all evil, from sin and distress,

Forsake not our relatives

And reward all those who help us

Just as You, Good Savior,

Love and Forgive each one of us,

So may we love and pardon each other.

All thanks to You, our Lord and God”

Ameen!

President Yahya Jammeh, from Bakoteh to Basse, the children and youth, mothers and aunties and staff say Thank You! May God Almighty Bless your Heart, your Family and The Gambia.