Peace Ambassadors The Gambia (PAG), formerly Youth Ambassadors of Peace, recently convened a press conference to brief the public on their 2010-2011 recruitment process.
Speaking at the PAG headquarters in Kanifing, the executive secretary of the PAG, who also doubles as the chairperson of the National Youth Council, Fabakary Kalleh, said the recruitment is open to everyone who has attained the age of 13.
"To be a volunteer, one must be inspired and willing to volunteer irrespective of nationality," he said.
He stressed that to qualify to join the PAG, prospective volunteers must believe in the cause of the organization; that is promotion and advocating for peace.
The recruitment also empowers young people with necessary skills and techniques to serve as peace educators as well as to increase the membership of peace advocators around the world, he explains.
Kalleh added: "It is worth noting that the recruiting members also have to develop and implement their own action plan of at least one peace education activity in their communities either individually or collectively before being officially certified."
The president of the Peace Ambassador The Gambia, Lamin M. Sanyang, told journalists that the PAG is the new name given to the Youth Ambassadors of Peace and should henceforth be called the PAG.
"The organization was conceived based on the realization that the whole generation of young people live in the absence of peace, bearing the consequence on their minds and bodies," he said.
He added that they are very much concerned about arms conflicts, genocide, which come about as a result of civil, racial and politics.
The situation, he laments, is causing continuous violence, instability, destruction, poverty, hunger, ill health and underdevelopment, which mostly affect women and children.
Abdou F.B. Boye, Programme Coordinator of PAG, pointed out that developing the creative and leadership potential of young people will ensure their maximum participation in national and international development.
"We are cognizant of the fact that young people can and are ready to enhance their political and cultural tolerance that contribute to the socio-economic empowerment of all people and promoting the values of life toward the realization of the culture of peace and nonviolence," he noted.
