A five days forum of regional youth committee, Central River Region opened on Monday with funding from Action Aid International The Gambia.
With the theme engaging young people in the Democratization process of the Gambia bring together 75 young people across the country where they will discuss pertaining issues affecting youth in the region.
According to organizer the forum is divided into four thematic areas, namely, Peace building and Leadership, Civic education, Climate change and Gender and reproductive health
The event is meant to help participants abreast with the current national and global issues affecting the empowerment of young people.
Organizer stated that at the end of the weeklong dialogue the young people of the region will come up with a regional position paper that will be shared with the relevant authorities.
Speaking at the official opening the Program Officer of AAITG in Kudang Fafa Cham reiterated his office commitment in the empowerment and development of young people in the region and reassured their continuous support to the development of the cream of the nation (youth)
“Action Aid International The Gambia is youth friendly and we have been working with youth in all our intervention areas and this is a proud moment for us all to be here in Kudang ,” he said”.
He added: “ we wish we could bring all the young people of this region but that is practically not possible, however i am hopeful that you the participants will share the knowledge learn here to the others in your respective districts.”
Cham told participants his office doors are open for more partnerships and emphasizing the forum is a beginning of a productive collaboration with the RYC.
“Youth are the citadel of any nation and peace and security can’t progress without the youth. We (youth) play a very pivotal role in the peaceful coexistence of this country and we all should weld our efforts to sustain and maintain peace at all cost,” said Malick Boye Camp Commander at Kunda Army Barracks.
According to him, almost 70% of the crimes in the country are committed by the young people, calling for collective action to forge ahead for more development than crimes and drugs.
“We can surely make it happen and if we make more progress and follow because we can’t accomplish anything in the absence of peace and security,” he stated.
Musa Jarra, Regional Youth and Sport Coordinator urged young people of the region to focus on positive things and enhance their spirit of voluntarism and nationhood.
“It is high time we come together as strong forces to fight for our empowerment and development,” he pointed out.
He commended AAITG for the support despite the timeframe and promised that the position paper that will be develop at the end of the program will be a great one and this will make history as the first region that will put forward a youth position paper to the authorities.
For his part, Vice Chairperson of RYC Abdou Ceesay thanked AAITG for supporting his committee to organized this very important activity while reiterate his committee’s readiness to engage and empower youth from all part of the region.
This is the first regional youth meeting after five years and the last meeting was held in 2016 in Wassu.
