By: Haruna Kuyateh
Participants at the maiden Lower Badibou District Youth (LBDY) Weekend Boot Camp have called for increased investment in youth empowerment and youth matters to promote sustainable peace and human development in The Gambia.
The three-day camp, held at Pallen Amdalai in Lower Badibou District of the North Bank Region, was organised under the theme: “Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities: Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods, Inclusive Governance and Climate Innovation.”
The event, supported by ActionAid International The Gambia through its Youth Participation and Inclusion (YPI) Project and other partners, brought together young people, community leaders and development stakeholders to discuss governance, climate change, migration, education, poverty reduction and livelihood opportunities for rural communities.
Opening the program, Lower Badibou District Youth Committee Chairperson Jaila B. Gaye said the camp provided a platform for young people to exchange ideas, acquire new knowledge and strengthen their understanding of development issues affecting their communities.
She said discussions during the camp were intended to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge that would enhance community development and improve educational outcomes.
Fatoumata Fofana, Local Rights Program Area 9 Coordinator for ActionAid International The Gambia in Juffureh, said the Youth Participation and Inclusion Project had enabled young people to organize initiatives addressing irregular migration, inclusive governance, climate change and peacebuilding.
She commended the organizers and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired through the project, particularly in promoting peaceful coexistence and resolving conflicts between livestock owners and crop farmers.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Burama L.J. Jammeh spoke on the topic, “Education as the Equalizer: Breaking the Poverty Cycle and Increasing Opportunities for Provincial Children.”
He described education as the most effective means of reducing poverty and creating opportunities for rural children, stressing that every child, regardless of where they are born, should have equal access to quality education.
Dr. Jammeh commended the Lower Badibou District Youth Committee for bringing together young people to discuss issues affecting their future, saying the development of any nation depends largely on the knowledge, character and commitment of its youth.
He said education remained a powerful tool for overcoming poverty and expanding opportunities, particularly for children growing up in rural communities, and urged young people to take advantage of educational opportunities to improve their lives and contribute to national development.
North Bank Region Youth Committee Chairperson Pa Modou Gaye praised the Lower Badibou District Youth Committee for organising the camp, saying it would strengthen youth participation in community development and civic engagement.
He added that such initiatives would promote responsible citizenship and discourage young people from engaging in activities that could undermine peace and stability, particularly during election periods.
Other speakers at the event included: Lower Badibou District Youth Committee Secretary Abdou Hydara and Pallen Amdalai Youth Leader Muhamed Keita.