The students, numbering a hundred and forty, are on this important exercise held under the theme- ‘Promoting Peace a Healthy Competition and Consumer Protection, while Discouraging Gender-Based Violence, Irregular Migration, Illicit Drug Usage and Combating Climate Change’.
This annual event avails participants the opportunity to explore the beautiful country of The Gambia in full length, thus providing them the chance to meet and interact with indigenes and prepare for their responsibility as nation builders.
These students were being led by chairperson Matar Conteh and his deputy Kawsu Saidy.
The ten-day (26 August – 4 September) adventure featured camp fires, tree planting and cleansing exercise, pool event, sports day, seminars, debate, cultural night, movie and gossip night, ball night, party, talent night, research day, community and school outreach, ‘fatelekudema’, a Wolof phrase for remembering yesterday among a host of others.
Earlier in the trip, the students visited Albreda, Barra, Farafenni and some other communities in rural Gambia, where they had fruitful community engagements.
Often conceptualised and masterminded by students themselves, student leaders in particular, nationwide tours, knowledge hunting expeditions and research trips have over the years become a culture at the University of The Gambia.
This is largely attributed to the understanding that university or higher education goes beyond the confines of lecture halls, theatres and auditoriums, and practical life experiences and activities largely deepen students’ understanding of issues and play a role in shaping their philosophy.
It also accords students the opportunity to assess theories and, where possible, put them to test, thus widening their intellectual horizon.
A similar tour was held by the Education Students Association (EDUSA) a few months ago in June.
