The
officials of 4H Norway are currently in The Gambia for a two-week exchange
visit to 4H Gambia youth clubs.
The
team visited the communities of Bayaba, Manna and Jarumeh Koto of Central River
Region and had meetings with the youth clubs.
Tor
Brekke, team leader from Norway, said they attach great importance to the
promotion of exchange visits between 4H Norway and 4H Gambia in promoting
cultural ties.
He
said the visit availed them the opportunity to hold a daylong training on tie
and dye, and batik making in Central River Region north as part of efforts to
enhance livelihood skills transfer.
The
team also visited Daru Foday Ba vegetable garden, and the Songhai Centre Seed
Multiplication Centre in Chamen.
Mr
Brekke lauded the officials of Songhai Centre for the transfer of skills and
knowledge on the use of organic farming among the youthful population to
improve food production and productivity.
He
said the concept Songhai Centre was realised by 4H in 1980 at the community of
Kerr Ngorr, North Bank Region to contribute to employment creation.
Alieu
Ceesay, national coordinator of 4H Gambia, commended the communities and youth
for their invaluable support in strengthening the concept of 4H in sustainable
development.
He
said the exchange visit has contributed in sharing cultural practises and
enhance networking and learning more about family lives in the country.
Mr
Ceesay said 4H is committed to youth development and empowerment, citing the
provision of revolving fund for youth to venture into animal husbandry,
poultry, vegetable production and other income generation activities to enhance
sustainable livelihood.
4H
national coordinator said the 2017 exchange visit is centred on promoting
networking and partnership for stronger linkages in advancing youth and women
development to attain national development objectives.
Ceesay
said his organisation has piloted 4H clubs in schools in CRR and plans are in
the pipeline to scale up and provide training to schools on agricultural
practises to enhance food production and nutritional supplementation.
Bala
Dumbuya, 4H cluster committee and board member, thanked their partners in
Norway for their “unflinching support and cooperation” over the years.
He
said the revolving fund has supported the community of Kerr Ngorr to have 12
cows, 3 sheep and mobilised D12,000 for the club’s account.
The
fund helped to provide 6 solar panels to youth club members as part of the
lightening project initiative to ensure that people have the opportunity to
charge mobile phones to ease communication.
Anne
Kan Eliassen of Norway, a female representative, said the initiative enhances
public speaking, and promote team building and information sharing
