The people of Bakalar in North Bank Region in conjunction with Action Aid-The Gambia recently joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Day of the African Child.

The theme for this year’s commemoration was Fighting Against Child Trafficking and it was characterized by a march pass of school children with events, including a symposium dovetailing with us.

Mrs. Joanna Mendy, one of the speakers at the symposium, underlined the significance of the Day of the African Child, noting that the day is commemorated annually to reflect on 1975 when thousands of black school children in Soweto, South Africa were massacred. The students, she recalled, have taken to the streets to protest the inferior quality of education as well as to demand the right to be taught in their own language.

Also speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bakary Badjie, a representative from Child Protection Alliance, defined child trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child.

He dilated on the gravity of the crime and then thanked the people of Bakalar for turning out in their numbers.

Deputising for the chief of Niumi, Edwan Jammeh applauded Action Aid and ADWAC for choosing Bakalar as a venue for the commemoration.

Other speakers on the occasion included Mr. Jawara Tunkara of Nayco and members of the parent-teacher association of Bakalar Basic Cycle School.