Youth Forum: The Legacy launches Gambia College chapter

Hello and a warm welcome to another exciting edition of the weekly Youth Forum, which deals with youth matters.

In today’s edition, we bring to you the recent launch of The Legacy.

The Legacy, a youth-led non-governmental organisation, officially launched its Gambia College Chapter on 14 January 2016, at the college auditorium in Brikama.

The colourful ceremony brought together officials of The Legacy, National Youth Council, students and administration of The Gambia College.

In his opening remarks, the president of Gambia College Students’ Union, Ebrima Bah, welcomed The Legacy to the college, saying they were glad the organisation chose the college to establish their chapter.

He said The Legacy offers valuable programmes which could be of great help to the college community.

As upcoming teachers, agriculturists, nurses and public health officers, it is important for them to be empowered with the relevant knowledge and skills that will enhance the progress of their work in their respective fields, the president said.

President Bah also said his office is always open to chapter members, adding that they are looking forward to collaborating with The Legacy Gambia College Chapter for more developments in the common interest of the students.

In his official launching statement, the Executive Director of The Legacy, Saikou Suwareh Jabai, said The Legacy is a registered youth-led NGO that seeks to sharpen the focus and enhance the quality of young people as part of their organisation’s efforts at effectively equipping them for self, societal, national and global development.

He said their motivation is based on the unarguable fact that young people have the capacity to become productive assets in their chosen field of endeavour if given the relevant exposure and opportunity to demonstrate their skills through positive social actions.

“We have made our marks by changing the lives of hundreds of young people in and outside The Gambia through our formidable mass media advocacy on various subjects and most recently, trainings on climate change and life-long skills,” he added.

“We help to address the situation of the youth and take action in order to improve their access to resources and transform their consciousness through our values and best practices,” said Executive Director Jabai.

He added that The Legacy firmly believes that the ability for a society to prosper and sustain itself is founded in the appropriate education and empowerment of its youth.

He congratulated the new executive of the chapter on their recent appointments, saying it is in recognition of the unflinching commitment they have shown during the transition period of the establishment.

While declaring the chapter officially launched, Jabai noted: “Configure your inputs and install the team spirit, for unity of purpose is the starting point of your achievement.

“The proportion of your ultimate achievement will largely depend on the successful implementation of our ideals and doctrines in the college.

“Make no fool and break no rule. Use the materials given to you as a guide and do not lose sight of the daunting challenges that lie ahead of you.”

The Secretary General of The Legacy, Sheikh Omar Sillah, said the establishment of The Legacy Gambia College Chapter is part of their drive to extend their programmes to students.

He said The Gambia College is very instrumental and could serve as a building block to offer services to the students of the college, who would as well train and empower students when they go for their final postings in their respective schools.

He said they provide services of career development, leadership, fellowship and mentorship, advocacy, guidance and counselling.

Supporting this progress, SG Sillah said The Legacy, through its chapter, will offer an innovative leadership training programme for young Gambian leaders in the college.

These emerging youth leaders, he added, would learn that their job as leaders is not to solve every problem alone, but to inspire those they lead to solve the problems.

He said the programme entails a combination of taught content and in-the-field leadership engagements which would expose students to modern leadership skills and best practices that would help them to effectively lead their peers.

He said their Guidance and Counselling programme would be an integral component to promote the personal, social and career development of college students by playing a significant role in equipping the upcoming teachers with the requisite counselling skills to better their student’s sense of direction in their careers by engaging them academically and technically in making successful transitions to post-junior or senior secondary education and careers.

The president of The Legacy Gambia College Chapter, Omar Cham, expressed delight about the successful launching of the chapter and assured that they would live up to expectations.

He said as young people they should work together as a team, solve problems and progress together.

He said they are committed to implementing the programmes of The Legacy in the college and that they hope to do this in collaboration with students who are the final beneficiaries of their projects.

President Cham said they would make proper arrangements to give adequate social adjustment to fellow students by helping them to be well equipped to face and rise above the situations they encounter in peer pressure, social behaviour, making new friends and being leaders among themselves.