The
Gold Award Holders Association (GAHA) of The Gambia on Thursday trained 20
Madrassa (Islamic school) teachers on female genital mutilation at the Regional
Education Directorate in Brikama.
The
training was geared towards engaging Islamic teachers in the campaign to end
FGM within a generation and it was supported by The Girl Generation through the
End Female Genital Mutilation Grants Programme.
Speaking
on the occasion, Lamin Darboe, executive director, National Youth Council, said
there has been a gap in the FGM campaign which GAHA has identified and
therefore came up with the training.
He
said children tend to believe in their teachers and parents more and as such,
training the Madrassa teachers is important.
“When
people also have problems or doubts, they go to Islamic leaders, teachers, doctors
and other people they trust for clarifications, for that reason it is important
the training is conducted,” he said.
Mr
Darboe urged the participants to ask questions on issues that doubt them to
build concession because they must be convinced first in other to convince
others.
Baboucarr
Kebbeh, national chairperson of GAHA, said the association consists of young
people that came together to complement the efforts of the President’s
International Award – The Gambia by building the capacities of young people to
be self-reliant for a better future.
Ebrima
Colley, representative of the director of region two, commended the organisers,
noting that the vastness of Islam could be why there are some misconceptions
and misunderstandings surrounding the religion and FGM.
Omar
Ceesay, deputising Amana secretary general, called on participants to
participate effectively and engage the organisers in dialogue so as to clear
the misunderstanding and misconception surrounding the topic.
