Youth activism is nothing new in this country. And there are so many youth organizations in the Gambia that even the National Youth Council itself cannot afford to account for them all. But there are those that have been able to make so much impact that, one finds it difficult not to remember them. Among them are those that engaged in real activism. By that I mean activism against the injustices meted against poor countries like the Gambia, by countries that are supposed to give us a helping hand in our stride to rid ourselves of the bondage of poverty. One such organization is AYCAH.
 
The acronyms, AYCAH, stand for Africa Youth Coalition Against Hunger. It is a sub- continental organization that was founded in April, 2006, in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. AYCAH-Africa was founded by inspired African youths across the continent, who are very conscious of the fact that Africa was less economically and productively independent. The woes of this continent seem permanent, despite the abundance of raw minerals in its soil, the rich fertile lands it has for agricultural ventures, the highly rated, quality pool of intellectuals and experts it is giving birth to on a daily basis, particularly in the youth sector.

The world has come to realize that this omen this continent faces have also got to do with the under privileged situation it found it self in, thanks to the unequal treatments it receives from international organizations (bodies) to the advantages of the other parts of the world (developed world). This couples with the prevalence of civil conflicts.

AYCAH-Africa spread its arms in eleven African countries, including the Gambia. It focuses primarily on effort to combating hunger, poverty, and arm conflicts, high rate of youth unemployment, HIV/AIDS, amongst others.

AYCAH-Gambia is like any other structure of the main body (AYCAH-Africa), established in the eleven African countries to serve as branch and officially mandated to represent the regional body. The Gambia’s chapter participated in the first ever-continental youth conference against hunger, which was held from the 10th to 17th April 2005, in Banjul, The Gambia. It was during this conference that the idea of AYCAH was conceived and given birth to, a year later, at the Dakar conference, in April 2006.

Although, after the Banjul conference, many Gambians were enlighten and realized the dangers in the on going growth of hunger and arm conflicts, a little progress was made on the realization of AYCAH's objectives as no single structure was officially put in place or mandated to take charge at the country level at the time.
 
Purpose of formation

Although, as stated above, The Gambia has over the years experienced an unusual proliferation of youth organizations, quite a little effort had been directed in the area of food security and the fight against hunger. Until the formation of AYCAH, the fight against hunger and food security in The Gambia had received a joint attention from the youth sector, despite the fact that a greater number of people are conscious of the implication of the scourges of the problem. Indeed, many people have actually gone as far as conceiving the idea of fighting against hunger and ending armed conflicts in Africa, but apparently all their effort just went down drain, rendering their wish mere dreams. Orientation, sensitization, as well as resource mobilization strategies for the fight are either in short demand of or non-existent.

The strategy AYCAH intends to employ in an effort to attaining its objectives is to work in solidarity and in partnership with the poor and the marginalized people, facilitate them to defend their interest and control the productive and social resources necessary to secure their human rights and entitlements. At the same time, it aims at creating an approach to development that does not create new poverty. The strategy would focus on information dissemination, capacity building, lobbying, as well as to equip people with knowledge on the impact of IFI, the impact of trade liberalization, EPAs, etc..

If you want to reach them, you can simply try:

The national co-coordinator

Africa Coalition Agianst Hunger

C/O The National Youth Council

Independence Stadium

Bakau.  Tel. 9781067