Discussions on the issue were vibrant and deeply reflective.
Youth, elders, returnees, women, children and persons with disabilities came together to share experiences, challenge perceptions, and explore the pressing socioeconomic issues fueling irregular migration from their communities.
Key highlights from Jalambereh:
Participants spoke passionately about the limited access to quality education and employment opportunities, recognizing them as major drivers of youth migration.
Returnees shared personal and emotional testimonies about the harsh realities faced during irregular journeys, providing valuable insights for the younger generation.
Community members proposed innovative, locally-led initiatives focused on skills development, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship to help curb the migration trend.
Special sessions were held to discuss the role of families and community leaders in supporting youth decision-making and promoting legal migration options.
Both youth and elders are committed to becoming champions of positive change in their communities.
West Coast Region:
In the West Coast Region, participants raised awareness and empower youth to shape a better future at home.
The sensitisation drive is to create a safe and inclusive platform for dialogue between youth and elders on the lived realities and risks of irregular migration.
The dialogue is also aimed at assessing the socioeconomic factors pushing youth to migrate from LRR and WCR.
The dialogue is also out to explore community-led solutions and policy recommendations that address migration drivers, raise awareness on legal migration pathways and promote local opportunities for youth empowerment and development.
As the dialogue continued in Jalambereh and later moves to Bwiam and Gunjur in the West Coast Region, all are inspired by the active participation and passion shown by the youth and community members in Soma.
The organisers believe that listening, learning and active collectiveness can create a future, where young people are empowered to make informed choices and build thriving lives within their communities.
A jury composed of experts in child rights, climate action, and project management evaluated and announced the winning
team.
The event also provided a platform for intergenerational dialogue between students and authorities, reinforcing the importance of youth voices in national development.
Meanwhile, the Programme Officer for ICT and Innovation, who doubles as the Youth Connekt Gambia focal point, Basiru Jaye, delivered a statement on behalf of the Executive Director at the National Public Audience in The Voice of the Youth Lab (VoTY Lab), which is the nine-month civic engagement and youth empowerment initiative implemented by Social Change Factory with support from the French Embassy in Senegal and The Gambia.
The project is carried out in close partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education of The Gambia and the National Youth Council (NYC).
