Gambian Youths attend electrical installation training in Mali

Six ex-corps members of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) on Monday left the country for Mali, to attend a one-month training on electrical installation.

The members are Ebrima Bojang, Nene Ceesay, Assan Gibba, Famara B. Janneh, Zakarya Sanyang and Lamin N.D. Colley, all graduates of NYSS in Electrical Installation.

The training, organised by the ECOWAS Commission for Youth and Sports Development Centre, will bring together ninety youths from the sub-region from 30 May to 3 July 2011 at the Safourlaye Centre in Mali.

This is the 5th batch of ex-corps members of the NYSS to attend such training by the ECOWAS Commission for Youth and Sports Development Centre.

According to a press release issued by the NYSS, the training is aimed at contributing to the attainment of the ECOWAS Vision 2020, of moving from “ECOWAS of states to an ECOWAS of peoples.”

It added that the training further aims at increasing the employability of ECOWAS youths, building capacity of young entrepreneurs, and contributing to the reduction of youth unemployment.

“It will concentrate on protection of electrical installations, standardization, building wiring, installation and wiring of TGBT and distribution panel, generator sets and wiring, and automatic start-up of generator sets and quotation/cost estimates,” the release stated.

Meanwhile, addressing the members prior to their departure, the deputy executive director of the NYSS, Ebou Sowe, urged them to perform to expectations and represent the good image of the country while in Mali.

“Many are called but few are chosen,” he quotes a popular philosophical saying. “You are the lucky ones and therefore it is important you make the best use of the opportunity.”

He advised them to humble themselves and learn to accept and respect one another for their mutual benefit since they are all working towards the same objective.

“If you come back, try to translate the knowledge gained from the training to members of your various workplaces. It is important to learn but equally important to practise what you learn,” Mr Sowe advised the youths.

For her part, the head of the NYSS Inspectorate and Skills Training Department, Fatou Touray Cham, advised the team to be cautious and very careful with what they are doing because they are going to a different environment.

“Try to demonstrate the greatest sense of maturity and make a difference by exploring and strengthening the existing cordial relationship between The Gambia and other countries,” Mrs Cham said. “You can make friends but let it be positive and in the interest of youth development.”