The competition which attracted 16 schools were: St Joseph’s SSS, St Augustine SSS, Gambia Methodist Academy, Nusrat SSS, Charles Jaw Memorial, St Peters SSS, Mindaw SSS, Fatima SSS, Nyorro Jataba Sankading SSS, Brikamaba SSS, Armitage SSS, Essau SSS, Niani SSS, Masroor SSS, Fatoto SSS, SBEC SSS, and Tahir SSS.
At the event, Fatou Geo Barry, UNODC PROMIS Project Coordinator, in sharing some of the difficult situations in the country, reminded that there are enormous opportunities available to succeed in the country.
“We have heard and seen the struggles families are facing as a result of youth leaving their homes through the ‘backway’ in search of a better life. This discourse is your way of expressing your message through art.”
She called on all to support the government in the fight against the menace.
Sisawo Cham, president of the UTG Law Students Association, said that government is mandated by law to fight TIP and SOM. He, however, maintained that in living up to this mandate, they require the support of relevant stakeholders.
“Students have important roles to play as they are being prepared to be future leaders so they need to understand the important things that are relevant to national development. And this event will provide them with unique opportunities to understand their roles. Thus, the greatest challenge faced in fighting TIP and SOM is ignorance. Therefore, if students have the capacity at this level they will be tasked to ensure that they sensitise people in their schools, homes and society at large.” he posited.
Amadou Jallow, Program Officer GCSA, said that most of these recruitments happens through online and thus urged youth to be mindful of links and other unrealistic offers online.
“This initiative shared today should serve as a catalyst for further action and advocacy in our communities, workplaces, and beyond. Together, we must continue to raise awareness, support survivors, advocate for policy change, and hold perpetrators accountable.”
On his part, Foday Gassama, Commissioner, Gambia Immigration Department (GID) while acknowledging their primary duty to protect migrants and their rights, indicated that the Gambia is willing to promote and contribute to the protection of migrants' human, civil and economic rights, be it her citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the Gambian territory.
“It is imperative to note that the Government of The Gambia has demonstrated commitment and a strong will towards a comprehensive approach to migration governance and this is evident in the policy formulation processes and most importantly in the establishment of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) a body charged with the responsibility of coordinating all the cross cutting issues that migration management presents.”
However, he noted when migration is not properly managed, its ramifications can have a negative impact on many aspects of the socio-economic development of any country, but also most importantly, on the lives and livelihoods of the migrants themselves.
The schools compete in singing, drawing and poetry. Nusrat SSS won the poetry segments, Sen Peters SSS second position and Tahir Ahmadeya SSS third position.
Fatima SSS won the drawing segment, Charles Jaw Memorial second position and Sen Joseph's SSS third position.
Sbec SSS won the singing segment, Charles Jaw second position and Sen Joseph SSS third position.
The winners received laptops, first and second runner ups got tablets.
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