Dr James Tsay, the Team Leader of the Taiwanese Technical Mission in Sapu, CRR, has said that over the years, he has realized that “The Gambia National Youth Service Scheme is a noble establishment that has the potential of transforming the lives of many young Gambians”.

He said he would inform the authorities in his country to provide the NYSS with new varieties of seeds for its farms and also provide IT classes free of charge for its staff and corps members in Sapu.

Dr Tsay made these assertions at the weekend in a meeting with senior staff members of the NYSS in his Sapu office.

“We have a lot of experience to share,” he said, adding: “Therefore, the Taiwanese mission in The Gambia aims at bringing experts to transfer technology. It is important to shift from subsistence farming and concentrate on commercial farming.

“We will collaborate with you in the area of agriculture and we will supply you with some new varieties of seeds for your farms and provide IT classes for your staff and corps members free of charge.”

While challenging the NYSS to keep up the good work in helping Gambian youth realize the importance of agriculture and also the difference they could make in the lives of many should they take farming seriously, Dr Tsay called for more assistance to consolidate the efforts of the scheme, saying that the chunk of the development projects in Africa would have to be done by Africans.

For his part, Musa Mbye, the Executive Director of NYSS, thanked the Taiwanese Government through Dr James Tsay, for its commitment to helping not only the NYSS but also all development projects in The Gambia.

“The Gambia National Youth Service Scheme is looking forward to selling produce from its farms at the international market,” he said, adding that the intervention by the Taiwanese Technical Mission would go a long way in helping the scheme realize its dreams.

“It’s encouraging and we are grateful that people have recognized the important role of the NYSS in developing the human resource base of the country - the youth. As we strive to achieve our noble goals, we will take the responsibility and also live up to expectation,” he affirmed.