Hearts to Africa, a UK based charitable organisation, awarded certificates of achievement to 69 outstanding students in 22 schools a colourful ceremony held at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

The ceremony - organised to mark 10 years of Hearts to Africa's operation in The Gambia - also embraced nine teachers, who were elevated to the rank of Ambassadors of Peace across the country.

Ousman Ceesay, who represented the permanent secretary at the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, acknowledged that the organisation has played a vital role in ameliorating the living conditions of most Gambians by rendering assistance to communities.

"Over the years, they have contributed their quota in providing education and learning materials to Gambian students," he said.

He further thanked the founder, Samuel Burke, and the entire team of Hearts to Africa for their invaluable support and wished them a happy anniversary and assured them of his department's support to their cause.

For his part, His Excellency Ambassador for Peace and founder of Hearts to Africa, Samuel Burke said his organisation was established following his visit to The Gambia in 1997 with the sole aim of giving support to their fellow brothers in Africa.

According to him, as part of their annual contributions they decided to revisit their programme and chose to award longstanding partners to acknowledge their achievements in order to encourage others to follow suit.

He went on to say that during their stay in the country, they will embark on a countrywide tour to disburse gifts worth over £65,000 comprising of computers, stationery materials, family package, clothes, medical equipment and agricultural tools to various Gambian communities.

Pam Blackman and Hermina Etienne, members of the organisation who were also decorated as Ambassadors for Peace, expressed delight at receiving the award and vowed to use their humanitarian awards for a better world. Other speakers at the ceremony included the Atlantic Hotel General Manager, Sylvain Chauvet and Yankuba Bojang, the organisation's representative in the country. It was also attended by government officers and Ambassador for Peace, Lamin Kujabi.