By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has presented D1, 250,000.00 mini-grants to 25 youths who took part in a ten days training on peace building leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Each of the participants received an amount of D50, 000 and a certificate.The project was meant to provide the participants with the pre-requisite knowledge to enable them go back to their respective regions and sensitizes their community on Conflict prevention, peace building, leadership and entrepreneurship, and real skill development.
Speaking at ceremony held at Metzy Hotel, Kotu, Salaman Njie, WANEP Country Coordinator, expressed happiness to presided over the awarding ceremony of Mini Grants for the 25 youths who successfully completed a ten days youths service training on a project funded by UNFPA under its peace building fund.
According to her, the rationale behind the implementation of this project was to enable the participants to have in-depth knowledge in the maintenance of peace, conflict resolution and ensuring peace building within our community.
“The importance of this project cannot be over emphasised as the youths have highest population constitute of 60% of the population. Therefore, exposing or training them on such topic is important, considering at this point of time of election year,” she said.
She explained that the selection process for the training was very transparent as it was advertised on both the print and electronic media and out of over 200 applicants, 25 where selected and trained.
“At the end of the ten-day training, participants were tasked to come up with project proposal to address root cause of conflict within and between their communities, so as to maintain peaceful co-existence and as well as build their capacity as peace builders and entrepreneurs,” she explained.
On behalf of the Minister of Youths and Sport, the Permanent Secretary, Saikou K. Sanyang commended WANEP and UNFPA for foresight in coming up with this very important training and given grant to youths. Saying leadership and Entrepreneurial skills development are intricate skills needed in the sustenance of peace.
PS Sanyang noted that high rates of unemployment among young people can be a treat to long term peace and security of any nation. Access to finance has always been a great hindrance to the potentials of our young entrepreneurs to grow their business which allows them to earn a decent living and by extension creating jobs for other people.
