Executive
Director, Mamadou Edrisa Njie, of the
Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia chapter, better known as GYIN
Gambia, at the opening of a two-day training, told the people of Foni Bulock to
work together to advance their association.
The
3rd to 4th June 2017 training was held in Foni Bulock village for 40 women and
youths on entrepreneurship, reports writing clinic and gender-based violence.
The training was facilitated by GYIN Gambia to support Bulock Kapongha Youth
Development Association members to acquire knowledge and skills.
The
training, according to organisers, is in series so as to train more youth and
women in the community to become self-reliant.
Speaking
at the official opening, Ambassador Njie stated that for a community-based
organisation (CBO) to achieve its goals and objectives, members must be ready
to work in unison thus promote the agenda of the association.
“Your
members need to bond family relationship, embrace each other in social
activities and be ready to be ambassadors of the village,” he said.
According
to him, GYIN Gambia as a partner of Bulock Kapongha Youth Development felt that
the Foni-based association needs capacity building programmes as well as skills
development activities to contribute to the development of the local community.
He
told his audience that GYIN Gambia as a specialised national youth network in
rural developments and focuses on entrepreneurship, leadership, agribusiness
and innovation programmes.
“We
will continue supporting rural youths in their endeavours especially in the
areas of entrepreneurship, leadership, agribusiness and innovative activities
that gears towards enhancing rural lives,” he promised.
Executive
Director Njie pointed out that the training is one of the recommendations made
during Bulock Kapongha Youth Development Association’s congress on 16 April
2017.
“GYIN
Gambia is here to support your association with meaningful activities that can
transform your lives,” he said. “I urged all of you here present today, to make
best use of the training and share the gained knowledge with others to continue
the learning process of transmitting knowledge.”
Ms.
Halimatou Colley, vice president of Bulock Kapongha Youth Development
Association, commended GYIN Gambia for what she described as fulfillment of the
network’s promise made during the association’s congress.
She
hailed the efforts of GYIN Gambia leadership saying that for them to partner
with GYIN Gambia was “not a mistake” because they benefitted a lot from GYIN
Gambia from 2014 to date.
She
called on their members to see the association as theirs while calling on them
to contribute to the success of the association saying that the success of the
association is the success of the village.
“When
I look at you (members), I see success and hope for the future of the village,”
said Colley.
Mr.
Ebrima Bah fondly called Pressbah, projects manager at GYIN Gambia, was the
lead facilitator who took the participants through the Creating Opportunity for
Rural Youth (CORY) Training Module on Venture Creation.
At
the end of day training, participants identified three (3) incomes generating
activities as follows; poultry, restaurant and sheep breeding. The income generating activities are planned
to be implemented in 2018.
Within
six months, June-December, 2017, the following activities have been identified-
rehabilitation of the village market, tree planting exercise, youth farm and a
football tournament.
The
official opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Sarjo Jarju, secretary general of
Bulock Kapongha Youth Development Association while the training was moderated
by Ms. Jainaba Manjang, head of programmes at GYIN Gambia, who advised the
participants to take the training seriously and out the knowledge into good
use.
Another
training is planned on the 17th -18th June, 2017 in Foni Bulock also to be
facilitated by GYIN Gambia on Leadership and Management training.
