PIA awards 373 participants

Out of those awarded – Muslim Senior Secondary School registered 267 silver awardees; Garba Jahumpa Senior and Junior Secondary Schools registered 6 silver awardees and The Gambia Senior Secondary School registered 100 participants.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Sainey Drammeh, executive director of PIA, reminded that the initiative is designed to recognise and create environment for young people to unleash and discover their hidden talents to contribute their quota to national development.

“The award scheme also enables young participants to discover the world from a different perspective and to see the diversity of the world.” he said.

This, he added, would enable them to realise and understand the world better, saying PIA prepares participants on life-changing activities.

He pointed out that their programmes comes in the form of rendering full voluntary community service, participation in recreational or sporting activities, acquiring a livelihood skills, participating in adventurous journey, as well as initiating and implementing projects in communities in need.

Also speaking, Rohey Malick Lowe, the mayoress of Banjul, averred that the award scheme is aimed at encouraging young people by providing them with useful services to contribute to national development.

The programmes, she added, is also designed to encourage development of personal interest and practical skills among young people to enable them participate in physical recreation to improve personal growth.

She assured of her Council's support towards youth development especially youth in Banjul and beyond.

Deputysing for the Minister of Youth and Sports, Abass Bah acknowledged that PIA don’t only train young people on skills, but they also instill discipline and communication skills to enhance their interpersonal skills and how to interact with the community.

"Therefore, the Ministry’s doors are always open for youth development in the country."

The President’s International Award (PIA) was structured by an Act of Parliament to provide environment for people with skills to unleash their talents.