Youth Development

Hundreds of young people gathered in Bwiam, a town located 120 kilometers from the capital, Banjul, where ChildFund works with one of its Federation partners. They came together to exchange ideas, discuss issues affecting youth, and explore ways forward.

The four-day forum was organized by ChildFund in partnership with the National Youth Council, the Regional Youth Chairpersons, the Speaker of the National Youth Parliament, and the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI).

The summit aimed to establish a Youth Advisory Council, providing a mechanism for duty bearers and policymakers to engage directly with young people across the country.

Nfamara Dabo, Programs and Sponsorship Director at ChildFund, explained that they believe youth involvement is crucial for making programs relevant, authentic, and responsive to young people’s needs. He emphasized that for the programs to be impactful, youth must be involved at every stage: designing, implementing, and educating.

The council, he said, would engage in public outreach and advisory activities to advance youth participation in nation-building.

Musu Komma, ChildFund’s Country Director, outlined the goal of establishing a youth advisory council—an entity composed of young people who would serve as an advisory and advocacy body to government and donor agencies. “This proposed council will give youth the opportunity to engage in policy advocacy and offer creative ideas to the government and organizations to support their implementation for the benefit of all youth. It will also enhance your participation in community leadership and guide you in learning directly from diverse youth about their experiences, needs, and priorities,” Madam Komma said.

Hon. Amie Colley, Member of Parliament for Foni Brefet, Western Region, addressed the girls at the summit, sharing her personal experience: “Do not let anything stand between you and your education, because education is the key to success. I am a clear example of that. I came from a humble background and fought my way through to get to where I am today. Believe me, education was the key to everything I have achieved.”

Hon. Musa Amul Nyassi, former Member of Parliament for the area, advised the youth to make wise decisions when it comes to leadership and responsibilities. He stressed the importance of selecting a good leader for the advisory body, as this would determine the council’s success. “Whenever you are in a position of responsibility, you are there to serve the people, not to benefit from them,” Hon. Nyassi pointed out.

He reassured the youth that he and others in positions of responsibility in the Western Region would always support them. He also emphasized that the level of education matters less than how one applies and transforms that knowledge to positively impact the lives of others.

ChildFund supported 454 youth attending tertiary institutions, including the University of The Gambia, with tuition fees in 2024. In the same period, the organization also supported the enrollment of 137 youth in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers across the country.