By Jainaba Njie
The Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia in partnership with UNESCO Dakar office, on 8th February, 2022 held a workshop to review and validate a Training Manual on Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Education for Youth Organisations at Baobab Holiday Resort in Bijilo.
The manual is the outcome of Organizational Capacity Needs Assessment exercise of 50 youth organisations in Banjul and Kanifing Municipalities, West Coast, North Bank, Central River and Upper River regions, which was facilitated by GYIN Gambia and funded by UNESCO Dakar through the Peace Building Fund project.
The field work of the assessment, preparation of the report and the development of the Manual were supported by two consultants of GYIN Gambia, namely Solomon Atibuni and Njundu Drammeh, under the technical assistance and guidance of UNESCO Dakar.
Speaking shortly before the start of the validation workshop, Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Executive Director of GYIN Gambia said this workshop will give the opportunity to selected youth organisations across The Gambia that were engaged during the field work of the assessment, and other stakeholders with experience and expertise in peace and conflict transformation, to review the manual with a view to making sure it is reflective of the situation on the ground.
Ms. Mariama Njie, a member of The Gambia Empowerment Person with Physically Challenge Organization (GEPPCO), on behalf of her organization thanked GYIN Gambia and UNESCO Dakar for developing such a Training Manual, which according to her, after the validation will be very instrumental in her organization’s work.
While recounting her participation during the training needs assessment, she used the opportunity to call on her fellow participants to make best use of the document.
According to her, peace is fundamental in her organization’s day-to-day work. She noted that the implementation of the sustainable peace building project by GYIN Gambia is paramount considering that the country just witnessed a presidential election and in months to come, there will be Parliamentary and Local government elections.
“The most important aspect of the programme is the involvement of the physically challenged group as we always feel discriminated in many projects and programmes,” Ms Njie said.
For Sainey Jawara, another participant who took part in the Training Need Assessment from Kaur Balasita Youth Association explained that his Organisation is a community base organization, with the objective of promoting community development programmes such as empowering youths and women, mostly in the areas of entrepreneurship.
According to him, the interactions during the training need assessment had broaden his understanding on peace, violence and conflict within the communities, homes and the association.
He noted that the validation workshop has also strengthened his capacity as head of his Organisation on sustainable peace.
