Kombo
East Youth and Children Development Alliance (KEYCDA); the coordinating body of
all youth and children affairs in Kombo East District, Saturday commenced
its 4th Youth Leadership and Integrity
Convergence at Kuloro Lower Basic School.
The
synergy brought together young people from all the 33-villages of the district
to discuss issues that have been affecting them and the society.
It
is organised on the theme: Enhancing youth and Children participation in
leadership and decision making process.
Part
of the thematic areas to be discussed during the course of the convergence
includes improving young peoples’ understanding of child protection and rights,
leadership and management, sports and gender and girls empowerment.
Chairperson
of the Alliance’s board, Omar Bah said the theme of the gathering is apt
because they believe it will inspire young people and empower them to be
effective participants in the decision making process within the Alliance and
their communities to see lots of changes in the future.
Mr
Bah challenged the participants to make the best use of the convergence,
telling them that KEYCDA is a university of its own where young people can
learn new life experiences.
He
thanked Saama Kairo Federation for partnering with the Alliance despite some
breakdown of communication between them. “I assure you that this new
relationship will be well strengthened,” he said.
He
also thanked the National Youth Council -NYC- for fully supporting the
convergence.
The
idea to establish KEYCDA was conceived by Pirang Fondinkeh Kambeng Kafo; a
youth-led community based organisation in 2005, leading to its establishment
the same year as the umbrella governing body of all youth and children affairs
in Kombo East.
National
Assembly Member for Kombo East, Lamin FM Contah said having an organisation
like KEYCDA is a big plus and encouraged the young people to keep up the good
work.
Executive
director of NYC, Lamin Darboe, who was one-time the Alliance’s coordinator
highlights some of the challenges the Alliance used to encounter during their
time.
“I
remember our first meeting was at Kuloro when we were about to come with this
initiative. Things were very hard then but because of the young energetic
people we have the initiative went on to be a success,” he said.
He
commended young people of the district for their active roles in making sure
that the Alliance remains alive and actively empowering their fellow young
people.
