PAG prepares for annual youth camp

Peace Ambassadors The Gambia (PAG) formerly called Youth Ambassadors of Peace is warming up for its annual youth summer camp.

Consequently, PAG last Tuesday 22nd June 2010 convened a press conference at its headquarters at Kanifing Estate to publicise the fourth international youth summer school on peace slated for 16thto 25th July, 2010.

According to PAG officials, this year's youth forum will be held at the Gambia College campus in Brikama in the Western Region.

Speaking at the conference, Lamin Sanyang the president of PAG, said the success of the first international camp held in 2005 at the Gambia College and supported by Concern Universal, inspired them to make the activity an annual event.

He announced that the theme for this year's international edition is "In Search of Peace in Africa".

According to Mr. Sanyang, the event will attract about 150 young people from the Gambia and, hopefully, beyond to discuss problems affecting young people, and to develop strategies that could ensure lasting peace in the world.

The whole idea is to enhance political and cultural tolerance that contributes to the socio economic empowerment of all people, and to promote the value of life towards the realization of a culture of peace and non-violence for the children, he said.

He added that the international youth summer school seeks not only to provide participants with the opportunity to acquire basic knowledge related to peace, virtues such as discipline, civility, compassion, tolerance and respect for others, but also to learn to act in a peaceful manner.

"No calling is more noble, no responsibility is greater than that of enabling men, women, children in cities and villages around the world, to make lives better and peaceful", he emphasised.

Also speaking at the occasion was the chairman of the organising committee, Ansuman Darboe, who said that the summer school will comprise a series of activities and forums.

He revealed that the issues to be discussed would include human rights, which will expose participants to the international human rights system with particular reference to the AU system, introduce and expose international human rights instruments, identify and discuss the role of young people in human rights promotion, and linking human rights education to peace building.

Other thematic areas will include conflict management and non-violence, leadership, governance and democracy, enterprenuership development and small business management. Also climate change.

He stated that two conferences would be held that focus on human security issues, such as climate change, food security, poverty, and youth unemployment, among others. He further asserted that discussions will be held on the reduction in agricultural productivity, heightened water insecurity, increased exposure to extreme weather events, collapse of ecosystems and increased health risks.

Mr. Darboe appealed to all to come on board to support this great event in order to help young people in nurturing peace all over the world.

Participation in the forum, he said, is now open and the registration fee is just D200 applicable to local participants only. The forms can be collected and returned to any of their branches across the country.

Other speakers included Abdou FB Boye the program co-ordinator (peace education and advocacy) at PAG and Dawda Nasso the man responsible for network, marketing and publicity.

The organization strives towards promoting congress of tolerance in minds of young people to promote the idea of a culture of peace.

It would be recalled that last year’s edition was held from 25 July through August 2009 at Armitage Senior Secondary School in Janjangbureh in the Central River Region.