By: Mariama Njie
Gambia National Youth Service Scheme and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have graduated the first batch of the Accelerated Apprenticeship Program (AATP) on 29th August, 2019 at Friendship Hotel in Bakau.
AATP is funded by funded by the International Trade Centre through Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), meant to acquire skills for self-employment; its emphasis is on self-reliance and aims to discourage rural to urban and irregular migration.
The 142 graduates were trained in five skill areas; namely, Auto mechanic/Electrical, Brick-laying, Plumbing, Tailoring and Rice Agronomy.
Hadrammeh Sidibeh, Minister of Youth and Sports said the project is in line with the Government’s National Development Plan priority of youth Empowerment and development for economic growth and poverty reduction.
“This is a clear manifestation that the government is committed to enhancing youth employment. We as a Government has a moral duty and responsibility to care about our young people and address their issues as a strategy for dealing with various problems affecting our youth, including youth poverty resulting from many demographic, economic and social factor,” he said.
He explained that The Gambia National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) through this project has recruited 142 young people undergo nine months accelerated Apprenticeship Training to acquire skills for self-employment, its emphasis is on self-reliance and aims to discourage rural to urban and irregular migration,
Mr Sidibeh said the skills young people acquire will help contribute to the development of the local economy of the country; and government will continue to partner with development partners in accelerating skills development among young people in order to tackle unemployment and poverty.
According to him, the ministry of Youth and Sports through NYSS serves as a place of hope for young people and they share the yearning and aspirations of our government, in its commendable drive to build a progressive and stable nation that all Gambians want.
He commended the Board, management and staff of NYSS for their successful implementation of this project.
He urged the Graduates to make use of these skills you learned to earn a decent living and contribute to the economic growth of this country.
Emmanuel Mendy, Executive Director of NYSS said these grandaunts were selected from all regions of the Gambia to undertake initially a six months fast-track training but was extended for another three months, making it Nine months of intensive training in five skill areas.
He noted that it is to be noted that many youths continue to demand for the services of the scheme and he hope that these will matched with resource allocation from the Government and deployment partners.
He pointed out that this demand is ever increasing, given the number that always applies and continues to seek their services on a daily basis.
He commended Youth Empowerment Project for funding this training and that young people of this country are ready and willing to learn skills that are vital for the socio-economic development of this country.
