Turkish firm donates food to Gambian orphanages

A Turkish energy company operating in the Gambia donated food items to three orphanages in the country on Friday.

Karpowership donated 90 bags of rice, 15 bags of onions, 15 gallons of oil and loaves of bread at a ceremony in capital Banjul.

The beneficiary institutions are Al-Ihsan Foundation, Medina Salam Orphanage and Wulinkama Jawharr Orphanage.

Emre Durmuşoğlu, Africa regional director for Karpowership, and Ismail Sefa Yüceer, Turkish ambassador to the Gambia, were present at the ceremony.

The donation is part of the firm's social responsibility, said Yankuba Mamburay, country director for Karpowership.

"With our operations in the Gambia, the company will continue to engage in social responsibility projects that will help with the growth of people as well as providing educational tools," said Mamburay.

"This donation is a welcome development. Feeding people is one of our biggest challenges in this orphanage," said Muhammed Darboe, a representative from Al-Ihsan Foundation.

The Turkish ambassador thanked the firm for their support to the Gambian population especially at a "time when Ramadan is approaching".

In the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last year, Karpowership has made similar donations of food items.

The company is also currently refurbishing the pediatric unit of country's main hospital, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.