To cement the relationship between the youth leaders and those they are serving, this week Alkali Cham has spoken with the Chairperson of the Kombo North District Youth about the mandate structure of the Kombo North District Youth.
Ismaila Lowe, the Chairperson of the Kombo North District youth committee also spoke about different areas related to the district operation, below is the excerpt.
The Voice: What is your role in Kombo North District Youth?
Ismaila: I am the chairperson
The Voice: Can you describe the structure of this youth committee?
Ismaila: The Kombo North District youth committee has a similar structure to its parent body which is the National Youth Council. The committee’s executive members are elected in office at the district congress level. The congress is conducted by the Chairperson or any other executive member of the Regional Youth Committee (RYC) of the West Coast Region.
The Kombo North District Youth Committee is headed by a Chairperson, and the executive structure includes Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary General, Female Representative, Treasurer, Auditor General, and IPRO. Also, there are co-opted members – Deputy Secretary, Deputy IPRO, and Deputy Treasurer.
And the committee strictly follows the formulated, recognized, and adopted structure prepared by the National Youth Council and the Regional Youth Committee respectively.
The Voice: What role does Kombo North District Youth Committee play in the interest of young people?
Ismaila: The Kombo North District Youth Committee is a sub-body under the National Youth Council. It’s responsible for the coordination and implementation of youth programs and activities at the district level.
The Voice: What activities have you implemented in the past?
Ismaila: There are different activities that I can name –
✓Youth employment training opportunities at Yep Africa, The Gambia for the young people residing in the District ( Kombo North)
✓ Training on irregular Migration for the young people of the District.
✓ Sensitisation tour on peacebuilding targeting Young people at the school level within the District. Some schools within the district were visited, the Schools are Yunus English School, Model Senior, St Peter’s Technical School, Old Yundum Upper and Senior School, and Sukuta Senior.
✓ partnership with the Sukuta VDC and other youth organizations on a tree planting exercise at the Sukuta JabangForest.
✓ Covid-19 sensitization and campaign by the youths of the district through the committee’s coordination.
The Voice: Who is legible to be part of this district youth committee?
Ismaila: All bona fide youths living in the district i.e. young people within the youthful age bracket.
The Voice: What is your relationship with the national youth committee?
Ismaila: The Kombo North District youth committee is coordinating and implementing programs within the district level on behalf of the National Youth Council. The National Youth Council is the parent body and the committee is answerable to the NYC and RYC respectively.
The Voice: what are some of the achievements and shortcomings of this youth committee which you faced over the period?
Ismaila: Some of the major Achievements include;
✓ The training of youth on entrepreneurship and empowerment skills
✓ Engaging and reaching out to all the youth groups within the District through community outreach.
And our shortcomings are
✓ Resources mobilization, it is a problem
✓ Membership participation and it is difficult to get all the Youths to participate meaningfully in congresses and other community or social works.
✓ Poor accessibility to some communities within the District due to inadequate resources and road network especially during the rainy season.
The Voice: what are some of the benefits one can derive from participating in youth-led activities?
Ismaila: Self-serving reward and Recognition from the Regional Youth Committee or the National Youth Council. Getting access and opportunities for Youth leadership training and convergence nationally or sometimes internationally.
The Voice: What advice do you wish to give to your fellow youths in leadership roles?
Ismaila: It’s our responsibility as young people to participate and take part in Youth leadership within the district. However, young people are the cream of our various societies and the hope of this great country, The Gambia. Therefore, there is a need for young people to actively participate in youth-related activities.
I will encourage the young people living within or outside Kombo North District to do their utmost best in serving their people to complement the National Youth Council’s efforts towards the promotion of youth participation at the National, regional, and district levels. In serving, you will be rewarded.
