Operation No Back-Way to Europe (ONBE) yesterday organised a five-day training of trainers for their members in respective regions in the country.
The training is focusing on dangers associated with illegal migration and was funded by the US Embassy through its Democracy and Human Rights Fund.
Welcoming participants at the opening ceremony held at the Baobab Holiday Resort in Bijilo, Awa Jobarteh-Njie, the Vice-Chairperson of ONBE, said the association was initiated by one Babucarr Jabbie, a victim of illegal migration.
She said that it was formed on 8 August 2008 with the aim of sensitizing Gambian youths on the dangers associated with illegal migration.
For his part, a representative of US Embassy, Jason Brenden, expressed delight to be associated with the event.
He said that the US Embassy stands ready to work with the Gambia government and partners to support them. The embassy representative urged the participants to make good use of the training.
Mr Buba Sagnia, Director General of Immigration, said: "Illegal migration is an existing problem facing mainly the youth who are involved in this dangerous journey in search of greener pasture to Europe in particular and the wider world in general."
According to him, the people involved in the dangerous migration face a lot of difficulties along the way because most of them would not go through the legal route.
He said that a greater percentage of them do not posses valid travelling documents as a result they encounter lot of troubles and obstacles along the way.
"Most of them died on their ways either in the sea or in the desert, which they mainly use to reach their destinations by any means possible," he said.
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Ousman Sonko, in his opening statement, said the US Embassy Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) is a grant that provides assistance to indigenous or civil society organizations, such as Operation No Back Way to Europe, to enable them sensitize the public, especially the youth, who so desperate to travel and may fall into the hands of criminals.
Minister Sonko said the government is making giant strides in the fight against illegal migration and his ministry in particular has been engaging their partners and friendly countries to enhance the capacity of their security forces in dealing with the menace.
He said they have recently entered into several bilateral cooperation agreements with many countries that are on the receiving side, such as the Kingdom of Spain and Italy in Europe, as well as African countries such as the Kingdom of Morocco and Egypt, to find a way in addressing this incessant problem of illegal migration.
He said the government, under President Jammeh, has created an enabling environment for youths to stay and prosper by getting the requisite training at home as many tertiary institutions have been built.
He cited the National Youth Services Scheme as well as the University of The Gambia as examples.
He said that empowering the Operation No Back Way to Europe by sponsoring them to train their collaborators in the various regions is a move in the right direction.
He thanked the partners for assisting the ONBE, adding that by extension they are helping the government and the country at large.