The
United Guardian Youth for Development (UGYD) recently concluded a two-day
training activity on Anti-FGM laws in Basse, Upper River Region.
The
training course brought together 50 participating youths, community leaders,
religious leaders, security personnel and Nyasimbars.
Speaking at the training session, Abdoulie
Singhateh, the secretary general of United Guardian, UGYD, said the
familiarisation with Anti-FGM laws is timely, noting that people should work
collectively to disseminate information to other people who are not fortunate
to attend the training activity.
“Female
circumcision is banned in The Gambia, after presidential pronouncement in
December 2015,” he said, adding that they are there to spread the message.
Singhateh
revealed that UGYD received a small grant from Girls Generation worth two
thousand dollars, for a period of six months for their programmes.
Ansu
Kambi, Director of Tostan, urged the participants to focus and make best use of
the knowledge gained from the training course.
Musa
Baldeh, assistant programme officer of United Guardian Youth for Development,
stressed the significance of the training course and appealed to the public to
continue the fight against FGM.
“I
believe banning of FGM does not mean it has ended, and we have to continue the
journey,’’ Baldeh added.
Speaking
on behalf of the governor of Upper River Region, Alhagie Jawara said the youths
must be equipped with knowledge of the laws so that they could play a crucial
part towards ending FGM.
Omar
Cham said young people are instrumental in
the productive sectors of the economy sector, adding that they consists
of 60 per cent of the population, and
the importance of sensitising them on the laws on FGM could not be
over-emphasised.
United
Guardian Youth for Development is a national youth organisation formed in 2008,
and has been working on promotion, guidance and counseling, social
entrepreneurship, health and the environment.
