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| The concert is meant to seek donations (in cash and labor) to help build a chicken farm for sustainable agriculture for Juffureh (Photo provided by Global Mission Society) |
The
concert, to be held on 15th April, 2016 at 6pm at the Glory Baptist
Church at Old Jeshwang, will feature USA Award-winning Record Artist, Rob
Mercer and Friends, the Glory Baptist Church Praise Team and other guests.
Justina Thompson, CEO of Global Mission Society
and Founder of the Juffureh Project, said the concert is meant to seek donations (in
cash and labor) to help build a chicken farm
for sustainable agriculture for Juffureh.
The
Juffureh Project focuses on providing health care, education and training, food
security, housing and emergency response to Juffureh.
“With a chicken farm, we are in the
beginning stages of organizing a women’s craft group, and setting up a programme
for a few people in the village to be equipped with CPR (cardiopulmonary
resuscitation) and first aid,” Justina, an African-American who traces her roots as a 7th
generation of the Kunta Kinteh family,
said.
“We also are providing some
materials for Roots Nursery School and the Craft Center.”
 |
| Justina Thompson (2nd from left) and her Global Mission offload a truck load of goods for Juffureh village in March 2015(Photo by M. S. Joof/TNBES) |
In March
2015, Justina handed over a truckload of goods donated to Juffureh village. The
items included medical supplies, computers, novels and other books, clothes,
shoes, TV sets, video home systems, radio sets, dishes, bikes among other
things.
This
Benefit Concert, the latest initiative by Global Mission and the Juffureh
Project, is supported by the US-based Carmody Hills Baptist Church Missionary
Board headed by Missionary Louise Saunders.
Pastor
Oscar Broady of Carmody Hills Church Capitol Heights, the Antioch Baptist
Church in Upper Marlboro are also supporting the initiative.
Justina
said: “This year I'm happy to announce that at least four of the people
traveling with me belong to the churches mentioned and also traveling with me is
the leader of our International Missions Mrs. Joan Stevens, Antioch Baptist
Church; Henry Thompson, Assistance Music Director at Carmody Hills Church; and
my husband of 19 years, and a few others of Rob Mercer Musicans who we would like
to publicly thank for their support.
“Pastor
Robert White of New Hope Church also supported Global Mission Society to do a
fashion show and a tea fundraiser to assist with the transportation of the
items from the United States to Gambia by plane and also funds to start the
chicken farm.”
“We need
all the help from sponsors, donors who just want to give charity to wonderful
people,” Justina said. “I decided to establish [this project] to help Juffureh
village to preserve the historical birthplace of Kunta Kinteh whom I’m a
descendant of.”
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| The items included medical supplies, computers, novels and other books, clothes, shoes, TV sets, video home systems, radio sets, dishes, bikes among other things (Photo by M.S.Joof/TNBES) |
Juffureh
is situated 30 kilometers inland in The Gambia’s North Bank Region and 41
kilometers from the Gambian capital, Banjul.
It is
home to a slavery museum and fort – from where captured slaves were transported
to the Americas during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The
village remains a significant symbol of slavery and was brought to the
attention of the world by Alex Haley, the Author of 'Roots: The Saga of an
American Family'.
- This story first appeared on The Voice newspaper on March 21, 2016.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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