The organization was established to work with young people in enhancing their development to help them succeed in their respective dreams and walks of life.
Speaking on the occasion held at the organization’s resource centre in Nemakunku Community Nursery School, Saikou Suwareh Jabai, executive director of The Legacy, said they provide the right instruction, equipment and facilities for young people to enhance their abilities, artistic talents, adventure skills and development.
He said the concept was born out of their passion and strong desire to complement the Gambia government’s efforts at ensuring that young people realise their full potentials to become productive assets for national development.
Mr Jabai said they would continue to work with young people in implementing their projects with or without financial support, as “charity begins at home”.
He urged participants to share the knowledge gained from the training with their younger ones as “it is the most efficient pattern of empowerment”.
Prof, as he is fondly called, further described the graduation of the 20 youths as a lucid manifestation of the organization’s commitment to developing the hearts and minds of young people of The Gambia.
The Legacy executive director also said the training had empowered the participants with the skills to be more independent in making sound decisions of development for themselves.
The thanked the families of the participants and the school management committee for their support, as well as the professional facilitators who lectured the participants on their various disciplines.
The Legacy’s finance administrator Lamin F.S. Drammeh, in giving an overview of the training, said the subjects dealt with during the training included leadership management, writing skills, reading skills, public speaking skills, peace and conflict resolution, communication skills, career development and planning, drama presentation skills and techniques, music, first-aid skills, research skills, malaria and HIV/AIDS, child rights and responsibilities, gender and law.
The financial condition of the organization made it “challenging” during the course of the training, he pointed out, saying there was no official sponsor for the training.
Suwareh Jabai, Board Member of The Legacy, in his welcoming remarks, described The Legacy as a sound and important organization, adding that Nemakunku has “intelligent” youth groups.
He urged The Legacy to link up with Baobab in ensuring they leave a great impact in the community.
He also urged the participants to make use of the knowledge derived from the training.
A representative of National Youth Council (NYC), Dembo Kambi, in his keynote address, said that any community or nation that wants to progress must give young people proper training, knowledge and understanding.
He commended The Legacy for its progressive moves and activities, saying “they are preparing our future leaders and as such NYC are proud of them”.
He assured The Legacy of the NYC’s support.
“A nation that fails to invest in its youth is a nation bound to fail,” he says.
Mr Kambi called on the youth to take up their rightful positions, saying “the elders would not continue talking, making decisions and designing programmes for us.”
He thanked The Legacy for contributing to the development of the nation.
