By: Nyima Sillah
Dawda Cham, an environmental and Climate Change Activist and one of the National Delegates of the recently concluded Youth Connek- The Gambia 2022 has challenged the government to prioritise youth issues when it comes to national matters.
In an exclusive with this medium yesterday, Mr. Cham highlighted some of the challenges that were raised by the youth during the forum, highlighting the high unemployment rate, and lack of financial opportunities for young people to venture into business among others.
“These were the key issues that were raised and I think the government should look into these things and see how best these areas could be a priority to come up with policies that would help in terms of mitigating some of the challenges we are facing. These are the main issues affecting the young people in the country,” he advised
Mr. Cham challenged the government to come up with plans that will create job opportunities for the youth by creating skill centers in the country that will create a job for the youth.
“If we have some of those skill centers built in communities and regions, I think young people will make the best use of them and this will limit the rural urban migration which is at a higher rate.”
Regarding inequalities, he said a lot of young women find it very difficult to assume leadership positions, taking National Assembly as an example which has few women representatives.
He also appealed for massive support in building climate resilience while calling on authorities to support the youth organizations that are leading climate actions in their communities.