Gambian Delegation Returns From UNEP-TUNZA Conference

A five-member Gambian youth and children delegation recently returned from Daejeon, Republic of South Korea, where they participated in UNEP-TUNZA International children and youth conference on environment.

The delegates from the Gambia were Ebrima Dem, Fatoumatta Bah and Mariama Dumbuya of Global Unification – The Gambia, while Mustapha Jallow and Ibrahim Ceesay represented the children for children organisation, respectively.

The conference was from 17th to 23rd August 2009, held on the theme: Climate change: Our Challenge. It was geared towards raising awareness about climate change and its threat to the earth planet. It brought together over 700 participants from 102 countries worldwide.

The conference, characterised by a series of workshops, plenary sessions and field trips provided children, youth as well as facilitators, policy-makers and UN agencies to closely engage themselves in the global effort in realising environmental sustainability. It also provided participants the opportunity to learn, share ideas and experience on how to find efficient ways of coping, tackling, adapting and stopping climate change and its effects on the planet.

During the conference, young people took a proactive role in making their voice heard in supporting climate action and environmental sustainability. They also threw their weight behind global call to action for world leaders to “Seal the Deal” on climate change during Cop-15 world leaders’ summit in Copenhagen, Denmark come December 2009.

At the end of the conference, the participants prepared a youth statement on climate change, entitled listen to our voice which was prepared at the global town hall, the largest gathering of youth on environment in the year 2009