The
Youth Consortium Progressive Network (YCP) Wednesday sensitised students and
young people on illicit-drugs and their impact on human life and the society.
The
day’s sensitization forum, held at the American Corner on Kairaba Avenue,
brought together about 100 students from different junior schools within the
Kanifing Municipality, and also young people from diverse youth organisations.
YCP
is a registered non-profit youth organisation out to empower Gambians and
African youths to pursue their dreams, through the provision of courses on
career counselling, entrepreneurship training and the development of writing
skills.
It
is also aimed at promoting the attitudes of hard work, dignity of labour and
integrity among youths, and to provide avenues for youths to express
themselves, learn from one another about the major issues impacting societies,
articulate the challenges and address constraints to peace and development in
The Gambia.
The
occasion was also attended by representatives from the Drug Law Enforcement
Agency, including the public relations officer, Ousman Saidy Bah, and members of
the health sector.
According
to the organisers, the annual event started since 2010 to sensitise youths and
students on the dangers of illicit drugs.
In
his opening statement, Baboucarr A. Baldeh said that YCP is a youth-led
non-profit organisation established in 2010.
“Since
2010, we have been holding symposia in schools, panel discussions and the
reason is to give leadership training and entrepreneurship skills and guidance
to the young.”
He
said his organisation considered that youths should be guided not to get
involved in this dangerous menace in order to have a good career for a better
future.
“The
programme is mainly to involve young people from different organisations and
schools to discuss the dangers of the use and trafficking of Illicit-drugs,” he
remarked.
He
also urged participants to make good use of the sessions so that they could
learn more, and disseminate the information to their colleagues.
Tamsir
Jallow, president of the Junior Education Service, pointed out the dangers of
drug abuse to the health and lives of young people.
He
said youths and children are the cream of the society and future leaders of the
country; therefore, it is important to safeguard their welfare.
“Drugs
are harmful to our health, and young people are more vulnerable to illicit-drug
use,” he stated.
He
said young people are involved in illicit-drug abuse because of various
reasons, such as curiosity, peer influence, among many other things.
“The
most common thing drugs cause in our society is making people mad, and this
madness causes greater harm to our society.”
YCP,
in collaboration with partners, including the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of
The Gambia (DLEAG), has been sensitising the children, youths and communities
on the effects of illicit drugs in society through workshops, symposia, radio
talk shows, and annual International Drug Day celebration in order to
complement DLEAG’s efforts at creating a drug-free environment.
