By: Saidou S Baldeh
Fanta Bai Secka, Executive Director of Women’s Bureau has stated that communities will always strive when women in those communities are empowered, saying that empowerment of women is key’s in national agenda of the National Development Plan (NDP).
She also underscored the positive impact Tostan, an International NGO operating in The Gambia in the Upper River Region is contributing towards changing the lives of rural dwellers in the country at large, arguing that Gambia cannot develop fully if it women are not empowered.
She was speaking at the opening of two days National Sharing Seminar on behalf of the permanent secretary Office of the Vice President at a local hotel in Senegambia. The two days forum was organized by Tostan International The Gambia, an NGO that’s operating in URR.
“Women empowerment is importance especially for The Gambia, and I will always say that Gambia cannot develop fully if its women are not empowered. When women are empower the homes is strengthening, the communities develop, the children and men from those communities also strive and develop to their full potentials,” she said.
She added: “We value the partnership between Women Bureau and Tostan and we have being very much involved in the work that Tostan do in URR especially in monitoring it activities within the communities. Secondly, the community strengthen programme of Tostan really assist in strengthening the national women policy and its strategies as well as the laws that are in the women act that’s empowering women.”
According to her, Tostan engagement in sensitizing and creating awareness on sensitive issues like the deeply-rooted cultural traditional practice Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation and child marriage are of importance because they are related to the health of the girl child and the women, noting that these are issues that need be address.
She calls National Assembly Members to sensitize their communities on FGC and child marriage as its affect the health and wellbeing of the girl child and the women.
“We depend on you to support and strengthening the national women council to play their role effectives in communities as they are responsible in implementing activities and coordination of activities that are being implemented by various women groups” she pointed out.
Ousman Sillah, the chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee on Health, Women, Children, Disaster, Humanitarian Relief and Refugees said the select committee recognized the contribution the grassroots NGO is doing in the region, while assuring their continues support towards the achieving their fundamental goals.
Edrisa Keita, National Coordinator of Tostan, said since the establishment of the Tostan in 2006 it has contributed effectively in changing the lives of beneficiaries’ communities within the region.
He explained that the seminar was necessitated in order to share their inputs and outcome to the various stakeholders.
The NAM for Wulli East, Suwaidou Touray, Ebrima Jawo from the NGO Affairs, and Aji Fatou Janneh lady councilor for Serrekunda West both commended the grassroots NGO for not only changing the lives of rural dwellers but also supporting them in form of microfinance projects that will empower them.