YMCA Empowers Over 100 Youths with Skills

The Young Men's Christian Association of The Gambia (YMCA), with support from BLF/Y'Care International, is implementing a four year skills project for marginalized and disadvantaged young people in The Gambia.

As part of the project, over 140 young people were on Friday awarded certificates after successfully completing training on various fields such as carpentry, catering and food management, welding and tailoring.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at The Gambia College in Brikama, Joseph Taiwo Peacock, programme secretary and British Lottery Fund project (BLF) coordinator, said that the world is experiencing a youth unemployment crises and challenges surrounding youth livelihoods have become increasingly complex.He informed the gathering that YMCA has always championed the issue of youth employment. He said that YMCA has trained many young people with various skills to enable them attain self-employment.

Miss Fatou S. Baldeh BLF, project field officer for Western Region, said, "these young people graduating here today have undergone intensive training in their various skill areas and all of them either employable or self-employed. It is great to mention that about 10% of them have already secured employment and the rest are either promised employment from various places where they are attached and are willing to start their own business," she said.

The governor of Western Region, Mr.Lamin Sanneh, advised the graduates to make the best use of the skills acquired. He used the opportunity to advise young people to be always disciplined. "You are the heart of this country as future leaders you must continue to work hard," he advised. Governor Sanneh also advised youth to desist from illegal migration and utilize their skills here at home.