July 9, 2025, 7am MDT
A vibrant celebration on June 11 brought together community leaders, government officials and international partners to witness the inauguration of a new market and solar facility at Bakau Women’s Garden in Kanifing Municipality, Gambia.
The infrastructure donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a key moment for more than 500 women growing vegetables on a 10.5 hectares plot.
Elder Alfred Kyong, the director general and president of the Church’s Western African region at age 70, officially handed over the donations by cutting down ribbons during the ceremony.
“Our aim was to enhance the tools that these caregivers women need to thrive,” he said. “In this handover, the church is not only handing over the infrastructure. We are pleased to empower the 525 women who strengthened the community, maintained their families with a dedicated and dedicated attitude towards managing this garden, and built a resilience in the community.”
The church’s donations include a 10-stoll market with concrete counter tables, providing space for women to interact directly with customers, expand market reach and negotiate better prices, Churchofjesuschrist.org reports.
The donated solar refrigerated containers that can maintain the freshness of the produce and reduce post-harvest losses due to heat and refrigeration shortages. It is a common challenge in this region.
Mayor Binta Jeanne Jaraux traced the origins of the donation in June 2023 when he attended the International Conference on Enhancement of Family for Churches in Abuja, Nigeria.
There, she met with church leaders and shared concerns from Bakau women, including lack of water storage, limited market access, and crop corruption. The conversation sparked the donation, she said.
“Today, we present concrete results, a facility that stands as evidence of what is possible when people and institutions unite for the common good,” Janneh-Jallow told attendees. “This refrigerated facility is a life-changing tool for hundreds of women who feed our community. Gardeners can negotiate better prices, supply schools, hotels and institutions, and review the high-value markets that were previously inaccessible.”
The handover ceremony attracted prominent participants, including the leader and vice-president mayor of the Canifing City Council. Chief Executive Officer of Canifing City Council. Member of the Diet. Local religious leader. Directors and government officials of government ministries and agencies. Country Director of the World Food Program. City councillor in Bakau Old Town. Country Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Representative of the diplomatic force. And many others.
The presence of these influential figures has shown a growing awareness of the impact of the project and the role of the Church in sustainable development efforts across Africa.
His worship, Talib Ahmed Bensoda, mayor of the Kanifin Mans Mansipal Council, said, “This cold storage facility is a game changer.”
The women-run fully-run Bakau Women’s Garden plays a key role in local food security and family nutrition. With the new facility, these women are now increasing the tools to reduce waste, expand their operations and improve economic outcomes.
In a June 2024 Church News Podcast, President Kamille N. Johnson said, “Enhanced women and blessed our homes, our communities and our nation.”
Through this donation, these women are expected to have a greater ability to celebrate their families, their communities and the entire Gambia.
In line with the global focus on self-dependence and humanitarian outreach of the Church, Elder Kyung cited the Bible Galatians 6:10, explaining that the Latter-day saints “believe not only in ‘doing all good’, but in today’s handovers, the embodied these principles.”
The final message was one of love, gratitude and hope as smiles and applause filled the garden. Several senior officials expressed their gratitude to the church for their contributions and provided formal thank-you votes.
The day ended with a sense of collective unity, not just formal transfer of property. The partnership between faith and community will literally continue to bear fruit for what is to come.
