GAHA to hold annual summer camp in URR

The seven-day camp is expected to bring together about 150 award participants and youth from various President International Awards School structures.

As part of the activities, the camp will build a youth-owned bakery for production of bread to communities in URR, as a way of creating youth employment.

The event is also meant to strengthen effective networking among youth from both the urban and rural areas. It will also enhance the capacity of participants on youth entrepreneurship, teamwork, ability to withstand pressure, communication skills, networking, and time and management, among other things.

Speaking in a press conference on Wednesday at the Presidential International Awards (PIA) office in Bakau, Baboucarr Kebbeh, national chairperson of GAHA, said the proposed budget of the camp is D301,700 and the expected income – from the participants registration fees – is D75,000.

“The expected budget deficit is D226,700,” Mr Kebbeh said while calling on donor agencies and institutions to help in funding the summer camp, for it is for the benefit of the youth.

Mr Kebbeh said GAHA is affiliated to the International Award Worldwide and it is legally registered as a youth association at the Attorney General’s Chamber in Banjul.

Lamin Darboe, executive director of the National Youth Council, said the initiative of GAHA is laudable for it will encourage interaction and partnership among young people to share ideas and experiences.

Landing Sanneh, general manager of National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI), emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in youth development saying the two are closely linked.

“In order to create employment one must promote entrepreneurship and in order to promote entrepreneurship one has to promote youth entrepreneurship,” he said.

Mr Sanneh said entrepreneurship is key in creating employment for the young people.

Lamin Saidykhan, programme manager of PIA, said GAHA is collaborating with the PIA to stage the seven-day youth summer camp.