Young
People Without Borders, a youth-led community development organisation in
Siffoe, Kombo South have hosted a three-day transboundary peace festival in
Siffoe that brought together delegates from The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea
Bissau.
The
peace synergy is meant to amplify voices for social cohesion and tribal tolerance
through culture. It also aims to engage civil society organisations and local
communities in The Gambia and Casamance for peace through Culture.
President
of Young People Without Borders, Kalifa Kanteh said the peace festival is meant
to consolidate peace and free movement of people and goods, saying during the
2016 political impasse in The Gambia, both Senegal and Guinea Bissau have
welcomed Gambians and shared their resources with them.
Speaking
on behalf of the village Alkali, Sarjo Demba commended the organisation for
coming with the idea, saying Gambia can learn a lot from Senegal and Guinea
Bissau as they have experienced instability.
Ana
Jatta, Secretary General of Sub-regional coordination of social organisations
for peace in Casamance (COSPAC), who doubles as the president de L’association
des femmes pour la paix en Casamance, urged women to venture into initiatives
that are geared towards building and consolidating peace in the region. She
said Senegal and The Gambia share a lot in common.
She
said Gambia has been supportive to the people of Casamance and Casamance also
played a key role during the impasse. “Without peace, people will not be able
to travel and no meaningful development can take place,the group of people that
suffer most are women,” she said.
Madam
Jatta called on women to allow their daughters to take part in such activities,
saying that will nurture them to become advocates and ambassadors of peace. She
commended the people of the Gambia, especially YPWB for successfully hosting of
the event
