By Sulayman Ceesay
National Youth Council of The Gambia (NYC) is holding a three-day maiden edition of the National Youth Retreat on Youth Participation on Decision-Making Processes in The Gambia.
Being hosted at Football Hotel in Yundum, the youth Retreat is supported by UNFPA Office in The Gambia, through the United Nations Peace Building Fund and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a Germany-based organization in Senegal.
The activity brought together 150 youth leaders from across the country to put up strategies on how they could collectively enhance youth participation in decision-making processes in the Gambia.
It is expected to avail the participants the opportunity to review their 2019 activities and plans for 2020.
Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr. Lamin Camara of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, described the gathering as significant, as it is the first time, NYC is organizing such an important meeting to directly engage with its members, and the theme of the Retreat also centered on Democracy and Development.
“You cannot hold your leaders or your constituents accountable if you are not accountable to yourselves first,” Camara charged. In his view, the gathering signifies NYC’s readiness to promote transparency, responsible leadership, and above all, holding themselves accountable on what they are doing on behalf of young people, resources they are receiving on their behalf and how they are utilizing those resources.
DPS Camara underlined:”Democracy and development are very critical phenomena in any progressive society as young people. This is one of the very reasons why this gathering, to a greater extent, is an honorable convergence.”
He added that when people, especially youth understand democracy, appreciate it and operate within the confines of the principle that society could brace-up for the dawn of era which is inclusive in terms of representation and decision making, tolerant, secure and peaceful.
The Youth and Sports senior official further explained that democracy and development are very critical in the modern era, reasoning that they promote participation, equality, accountability, transparency and service delivery eventually for the good of society.
Camara said it is very pleasing when initiatives such as this, are staged because it creates a platform for young people to engage and interact safely.
“This is an indisputable indicator of how far we have progressed as a nation. Thus, I would like to reaffirm Government’s commitment to strengthen and consolidate these gains we all cherished and are proud of,” said the DPS.
The Executive Director of NYC, Mr. Lamin Darboe, gave a brief overview of the entire event, while describing it as an opportunity for NYC and other youth networks to give feedback on what they have done, this year.
“This is significant for so many reasons. It is an opportunity for accountability as well as a learning opportunity, but beyond these, to plan for the coming year. The role of young people in the development of this country is great and we should undertake our responsibility,” he enjoined the audience.
Mr. Dembo Kambi, Chairman of National Youth Council held, “Young people are one of the most important components of our society and taking up initiatives like these are always positive.” He, therefore, commended NYC and the entire young people for organizing this maiden National Youth Retreat.
