Kombo North Federation, an affiliate to ChildFund The Gambia, recently concluded a two-day empowerment forum for representatives of various youth organizations within the Kombo North district of the West Coast Region.
The forum brought together representatives from youth organisations and school children, and was held at the Banjulinding Nursery School.
The aim of the empowerment forum was to get the youths’ representatives under a single forum and to elect new members that would work hand in glove with the Kombo North Federation in pursuit of the best interest of the young people of the country.
Dembo Kuyateh, who moderated the closing ceremony, commended all the federation members for their commitment, and thanked the outgoing members for their high sense of demonstration during their term in office.
He encouraged the newly-elected members to work hard to ensure that they complement the efforts of the outgoing members in living up to expectations.
The federation manager, Ebou Mendy, expressed delight and appreciation for the participation of the youths during the two-day empowerment training session, and also to his staff for the hard work in ensuring that the training course became a reality.
He thanked the parents for allowing their children to participate in the forum, adding that the purpose was to expose the children for a better learning and a brighter future.
“What ChildFund is doing here is to facilitate in enhancing the process of getting the children to a brighter future,” Mr Mendy said.
He said the commitment of the children since the inception of the training session showed a clear indication of their commitment to be exemplary citizens of this country.
ChildFund together with Kombo North Federation is in The Gambia to help parents to assist the children that are excluded, less privileged and vulnerable to getting access to the best education, he added.
He said ChildFund works with children’s families that are excluded and vulnerable.
According to Mr Mendy, the level of poverty affecting families differ and ChildFund The Gambia in collaboration with the Kombo North Federation would go to the family of the poorest to ensure that children are well-educated to become good citizens.
To achieve this, Mr Mendy added, needs the cooperation of the children and their parents, as without their cooperation, no amount of funds from ChildFund The Gambia or programmes would make a difference.
He encouraged the children to continue the good work adopt good behaviour in order to become ambassadors, while calling on the new executive to continue where the outgoing committee stopped.
He added that any nation would not develop without the content of its culture, norms and values.
He further advised the youths to extend the message to others, adding that the forum was to discuss the concerns affecting the youths and to adopt a new strategy to promote the best interest of the young people of the country.
He said Kombo North Federation would attach itself to any youth groups that are ready to excel.
“We are making assessment to all the youth organizations, and those that are willing to deliver will be sponsored by ChildFund The Gambia,” he stated.
Seedy Conateh, district youth chairperson for Kombo North, also commended the youths for their active participation and cooperation with the Kombo North Federation during the two-day capacity building exercise.
He challenged them to filter the message gained to other youth organisations within Kombo North.
He also told the youths about the structure put in place at the National Youth Council, and advised them to join the National Youth Council which is the apex body.
