YPP meets peer supporters

Youth Partnership Project (YPP), in partnership with their counterpart Child Protection Alliance on Tuesday 26th January 2010, held a meeting with peer supporters and motivators at Child Protection Alliance (CPA) office in Fajara.

The project funded by End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Child Protection Alliance is implementing Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purpose (CSEC).

The beneficiaries of the project were SOS Child Village Centre, Tallinding Child Centre, Charles Jaw Memorial Academy Upper Basic School in Bundung, Kunta Kinteh Upper Basic School and Gunjur Upper Basic School, respectively.

Speaking to this reporter, the Regional Associate for Africa, Melanie K Gnandi, said that the Youth Partnership Project (YPP) is a three- year programme and it will end in 2011 in three countries, namely The Gambia, Togo and Cameroon. He said they are expecting to assist 15 supporters, and to also fight against commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Malang Sanyang, a teacher at Gunjur Upper Basic School, said YPP programmes enable students to express themselves and speak good English. He thanked them for supporting the students.

Fatou M. Bojang, the Head Girl of Gunjur Upper Basic School expressed delight at the gesture, noting that they have embarked on sensitisation campaign on child pregnancy and will continue to organise more sensitisation campaigns in order to make people aware.

Samuel Gomez, also a student of Gunjur Upper Basic School, said they held a series of sensitisation campaign on child pregnancy and child sexual exploitation for over 2000 students in their school and they have a Youth Partnership Project (YPP) club in the school with 35 members.

Ousman Koro, a student of Charles Jaw Memorial Academy Upper Basic School, said their YPP Club had held a series of sensitisation campaign on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).

Ousman Jatta, a teacher at Charles Jaw Memorial Upper Basic School, said his school in collaboration with the Gambia Tourism Authority have embarked on sensitisation campaign on child protection against harassment at the beach.

For her part, the Programme Manager of Tallinding Child Care Centre, Anty Mengeh Joof Gomez, expressed delight at the project, adding that it will go a long away towards supporting and creating a brighter future for young people.