Back and Next - Back and NextKEYCDA holds annual empowerment forum
Friday, November 28, 2008
Kombo East District Youth and Children Development Association (KEYCDA) last Wednesday held its 4th annual forum in Kafuta village.
The forum brought together over one hundred youth and children within the district. The forum brainstormed on issues affecting the youth association and the way forward. The theme for this year’s forum is youth leadership and employability for sustainable socio – economic development.
In his welcoming remark, chief of Kombo East District Alhagie Basiru Jarju described the event as an important move. He urged young people and the forum participants to pull ranks and work together towards achieving amicable solutions to the recommendations of the meeting.
Sereign Modou Joof, The public Relations Officer (PRO), who deputised for the Chairman Brikama Area Council (BAC), described the theme of the forum as fitting, considering the rate of school drop-outs and those who have completed senior schools with minimal chances of securing employment.
PRO Joof, seized the opportunity to thank the youths to device strategies geared towards achieving their desired goals. Nfamara Darboe, Sponsor Relations Officer of the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) The Gambia, expressed sincere and profound gratitude to the youths of Kombo East.
He assured them of his office’s open door policy to work at all time, especially in strengthening their relationship in all aspects of life. According to the CCF Sponsor Relation Officer, CCF is determined to bring meaningful development projects for the youths. He equally challenged them to take the forum with seriousness and share the knowledge gained with their colleagues who were not fortunate to be present.
Lamin Darboe, Coordinator of KEYCDA, who also doubled as the Youth and Child officer of Kaira Nyining CCF program Area in Kombo East, presented annual report of the youth association. He explained among other things that, KEYCDA is the umbrella organisation of the young people of Kombo East and has a total of over one thousand membership.
He revealed that the association has children’s committee, youth committee and sports committee as its arms, which are all working towards enhancing the well-being of youths and children at the district and the region level as well as the nation as a whole.
Mr Darboe explained that the youth association had initiated and completed numerous activities since its inception.
Youth Agency and Empowerment
Lamin Darboe said since the establishment of KEYCDA, they had initiated and implemented many activities geared towards youth development and empowerment. “It is our belief that, to sustain a group or program, people must not only focus on financial sustainability but also the human resource development. If people are empowered, they become a powerful force to face any challenge and change their ideas into reality.
The theme of the forum was selected based on the fact that KEYCDA, as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) seeks to support its membership by providing them with the necessary services and opportunities such as employment creation and strengthening its already established foundation through leadership and empowerment.
It is our hope that by the end of the forum, the capacities of the participants will be enhanced to utilise the available opportunities as well as continue to put KEYCDA on a safe and strong footing for sustainability” Mr Darboe said.
Child Protection and Participation
Deliberating on the importance of Child protection, development and participation, Lamin Darboe stated that it has been a core issue in KEYCDA’s activities since its formation.
He reiterated that, child protection has been mainstreamed in all their programs and activities, saying the need for children participation in their protection cannot be over emphasised. He added that KEYCDA’s approach to child protection is meant to give children the voice to speak out and to reduce the risk of violence as well as child abuse.
Challenges
The Youth Coordinator further noted that, the location of Kombo East is such that most of their target communities are off-road and transportation, as a result becomes a very big challenge to them.
He bemoaned constrains that School going children and unemployed youths from these communities mostly walk for 10 or more kilometres or pay high cost of fares to attend meetings or other KEYCDA activities like the annual forum.
He described funding as another major constrain the youth association and equally hailed Kaira Nyining CCF program Area, KEYCDA members and other partners for their support to the youth association.
The forum brought together over one hundred youth and children within the district. The forum brainstormed on issues affecting the youth association and the way forward. The theme for this year’s forum is youth leadership and employability for sustainable socio – economic development.
In his welcoming remark, chief of Kombo East District Alhagie Basiru Jarju described the event as an important move. He urged young people and the forum participants to pull ranks and work together towards achieving amicable solutions to the recommendations of the meeting.
Sereign Modou Joof, The public Relations Officer (PRO), who deputised for the Chairman Brikama Area Council (BAC), described the theme of the forum as fitting, considering the rate of school drop-outs and those who have completed senior schools with minimal chances of securing employment.
PRO Joof, seized the opportunity to thank the youths to device strategies geared towards achieving their desired goals. Nfamara Darboe, Sponsor Relations Officer of the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) The Gambia, expressed sincere and profound gratitude to the youths of Kombo East.
He assured them of his office’s open door policy to work at all time, especially in strengthening their relationship in all aspects of life. According to the CCF Sponsor Relation Officer, CCF is determined to bring meaningful development projects for the youths. He equally challenged them to take the forum with seriousness and share the knowledge gained with their colleagues who were not fortunate to be present.
Lamin Darboe, Coordinator of KEYCDA, who also doubled as the Youth and Child officer of Kaira Nyining CCF program Area in Kombo East, presented annual report of the youth association. He explained among other things that, KEYCDA is the umbrella organisation of the young people of Kombo East and has a total of over one thousand membership.
He revealed that the association has children’s committee, youth committee and sports committee as its arms, which are all working towards enhancing the well-being of youths and children at the district and the region level as well as the nation as a whole.
Mr Darboe explained that the youth association had initiated and completed numerous activities since its inception.
Youth Agency and Empowerment
Lamin Darboe said since the establishment of KEYCDA, they had initiated and implemented many activities geared towards youth development and empowerment. “It is our belief that, to sustain a group or program, people must not only focus on financial sustainability but also the human resource development. If people are empowered, they become a powerful force to face any challenge and change their ideas into reality.
The theme of the forum was selected based on the fact that KEYCDA, as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) seeks to support its membership by providing them with the necessary services and opportunities such as employment creation and strengthening its already established foundation through leadership and empowerment.
It is our hope that by the end of the forum, the capacities of the participants will be enhanced to utilise the available opportunities as well as continue to put KEYCDA on a safe and strong footing for sustainability” Mr Darboe said.
Child Protection and Participation
Deliberating on the importance of Child protection, development and participation, Lamin Darboe stated that it has been a core issue in KEYCDA’s activities since its formation.
He reiterated that, child protection has been mainstreamed in all their programs and activities, saying the need for children participation in their protection cannot be over emphasised. He added that KEYCDA’s approach to child protection is meant to give children the voice to speak out and to reduce the risk of violence as well as child abuse.
Challenges
The Youth Coordinator further noted that, the location of Kombo East is such that most of their target communities are off-road and transportation, as a result becomes a very big challenge to them.
He bemoaned constrains that School going children and unemployed youths from these communities mostly walk for 10 or more kilometres or pay high cost of fares to attend meetings or other KEYCDA activities like the annual forum.
He described funding as another major constrain the youth association and equally hailed Kaira Nyining CCF program Area, KEYCDA members and other partners for their support to the youth association.
Author: by Amadou Jallow
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