A five-day youth and children forum (bantaba) organized by the Saamasang Youth and Children in collaboration with Youth with A Vision ended last Monday at the Mother’s Federation Nursery School in Brikama, Western Region.

Deputising for the CCF Country boss, CCF Program Area Manager of Kaira Nyining, Mr. Momodou Jallow, asserted that CCF recognizes the significance of investing in young people as the future of any community, state and continent. CCF, he went on, has, since its inception in the country undergone a series of transformation with a view to responding to the ever-dynamic development climate.

“Of recent, one of the key processes in our development approach is the recognition and value given to each individual child’s gifts and in doing so, one should be able to trust and give space for that individual to demonstrate his or her talents, be able to participate, have voice and build relationship,” stated Mr. Jallow. He added: “Gone are the days when youths and children stand on the sideline and be overtaken by events. Delaying efforts will only serve to pass on the burden to future generation. Young people should make informed choices on things that affect their lives and in order for youths to make informed choices they must have a good grasp of current and emerging development challenges and options available to resolve them.”

For his part, Mr. Fabakary Fadera, Accountant General, Saamasang Program Area, reiterated similar sentiments.

Lamin Jatta from Youth With A Vision gave an overview of their organization, which, he said, is a vision and mission-oriented organisation, dedicated to the training and education of the young people of The Gambia with a vision for a peaceful and crime-free world.

“The organisation was founded on 1 May 2000, by a team of young people who have come together to work towards a New World and a better tomorrow. We hope to achieve this by training and educating young people of today so as to equip them to become responsible leaders of tomorrow,” he revealed. Youth With A vision is already established in all the seven administrative divisions of The Gambia. The Western Region, which is the host of the national secretariat of the organisation, has its sub groups across the country and is headed by a coordinating committee.

The organisation, in recognition of the important role of women in the socio-cultural and economic development of any society coupled with the need of empowering girls in the organisation to enable them effectively participate, has created a unique wing called the Girls Platform. This set-up within the group provides girls with capacity building training in order to bridge the gap between them and their male colleagues.

The children’s wing of the organisation was also later introduced to advocate for the rights and responsibilities of the child, such as right to proper education, health, food, water and shelter. It enables the participation and integration of children in all activities and decision- making process of the organisation. These children would serve as agents of change both in the households they come from and the communities they are living in.

“The drama troupe is another prominent component of the organisation. It consists of individuals with talents and skills in portraying information in the best possible manner. I am proud to state that, the Gambia Television broadcasts drama’s performed by our children’s wing at least three times a week,” he enthused.

“In pursuit of our dream of empowering young people, the Youth With A Vision was approached to work in partnership with the Youth and Children component of Saamasang Program Area. This gathering is a fruit of our partnership. In addition, we were able to embark on a joint outreach tour of Kombo Central District since last year. That activity enables the children’s board of Saamasang and the Youth With A Vision to interact with both parents and children in all this communities,” noted Jatta.

Meanwhile, in declaring the forum open on behalf of the governor of Western Region, Serign Modou Joof, Public Relations Officer of Brikama Area Council, admonished the participants to be disciplined and to also do away with the Babylon syndrome.

Isatou Sowe, a child, in her statement, said the purpose of the bantaba is to discuss issues affecting the lives of youths and children.

In her welcoming remarks, Penda Gaye called on her fellow youths and children to be committed to the socio-economic development of the country. She expressed the need for the youths and children to be put into the picture in order for the country to realise rapid development.

The Imam of Brikama Nema warned the participants of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Dawda Bojang, Saamasang Youth Coordinator, chaired the opening ceremony.

Among the topics discussed during the course of the week were teenage pregnancy, harmful traditional and cultural practices, HIV/AIDS, sexual abuse and exploitation, child’s rights.