Empowering young people with the provision of financial support and its technical know-how, will no doubt lead to the creation of job opportunities in the form of self-employment for them.

This will cut down the rate of unemployment and subsequently redirect the focus of young people from undertaking the disastrous journeys to Europe through the high seas. Conscious of the importance attached to the empowerment of young people, the Kombo East Youth and Children Development Association (KEYCDA) in collaboration with Kaira Nyining Federation, last April, trained forty young people of KEYCDA on financial management under the Junior Achievement (JA) International “My Money Business” (MMBz) component, sponsored by the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) Gambia office.

After undergoing the six months training, participants were divided into three business companies, with thirty-six thousand dalasis  (D36,000) given to each company as starting capital to venture into business. The activity and financial report of these companies was held last Thursday at KEYCDA Skills Training Centre in Kuloro. Lamin K Bojang, the project trainer said the training was based on financial literacy, which he described as crucial in youth development. According to him, the training has prepared the participants to venture into the business sector for sustainability. After the training, he added, the three companies were able to identify five positions, which included a director, financial secretary, secretary, sales agents and a board chairman.

Ousman Cham, CCF regional director for West and Central Africa, urged young people to take the initiative seriously. He reminded the youths of Kombo East that they should play an active part in developing their district and to take special interest in the development of children. Eustuce Kassel, national director of CCF Gambia office said the engagement of the young people in the JA training was a learning point as it was the first of its kind. He urged the youths to be vigilant. He then vowed that CCF would always be committed to engaging the youths of Kombo East in projects that will be beneficial to them. He also commended them for their hard work and commitment in making the training a success.

Ebrima Sanneh, federation manager of Kaira Nyining Federation, expressed hope that the project will cut down the rate of unemployment of young people in the district. He promised that his federation will continue to render support to the youths of Kombo East.