The camp, which attracted about 80 young people from various SOS institutions and partner organisations, seeks to equip participants with self-esteem employability skills to foster self-reliance and to promote network in strengthening their capacities for equity.
The camp held at a local hotel in Bijilo, was the first-ever National YouthCan! Network Congress Camp organised by the SOS Children's Village and partners.
At the event, Tijan Betts, National Youth Coordinator, challenged participants to foster network and innovation among themselves, so as to sell and unleash their potentials.
To address the social issues of poverty, inequality, drug abuse and unemployment, youth empowerment, Betts said it is essential to equip young people with the requisite knowledge to be able to better advocate for their rights and the rights of their communities.
Acting National Director SOS Children's Village, Fatou Lette Jallow, expressed concern about the alarming rate of unemployment especially on youth which hijack their potentials in societies.
“Empowering youth is a crucial tool for national development. I therefore challenge the government of The Gambia to create more job opportunities for the youth for the country for the well-being of the society and the country at large.
Kalilou Touray, outgoing president of the SOS Children's Village Youth Network, acknowledged that as traditional job for-life career paths become scarce, youth entrepreneurship provides additional ways of integrating youth into today’s changing labour markets and improving their economic independence.
Alagie Jarju, executive director of National Youth Council, who was the guest of honour at the event, shed light on the emergence of challenges reflecting on patients as an element of power for change which will be beneficial to the youthful population.
The engagement YouthCan! Project, he added, is a day of networking, learning and collaboration.
The initiative, he said, will inverse innovative self-employment skills and platform to out-space relevant issues hindering their progress.
He thus challenged them that perseverance is a significant component for success regardless of sex, race, religion and social boundaries implicating youth empowerment.
The event was held under theme -“Encouraging Innovative Thinking and Creative Solutions to Address Societal Issues Affecting Young People."
