The Global Youth Innovation Network Gambia Chapter,
GYIN-Gambia on Sunday launched the “I Am a GYINer National Campaign” at the
Offices of The Voice newspaper along Sayerr Jobe Avenue, Serrekunda.
The launch of the Campaign supported by Phelps Stokes and
the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, coincided with
celebrations marking International Youth Day 2012 on August 12.
The I Am a GYINer National Campaigns, set in motion by the
United States-based GYIN International, is meant to establish GYIN in 100
countries by December 2014.
GYIN-Gambia National Coordinator, Ambassador Mamadou Edrisa
Njie explains the goals of the campaign at national level are to “Recruit young
entrepreneurs to join GYIN; Recruit mentors and coaches to serve GYIN members;
and Recruit youth journalists, bloggers, photographers, and videographers to
cover GYIN activities.”
He added that the campaign is also intended to “Form
partnerships with local organizations (including government and media) to
advocate for youth entrepreneurship; Showcase successful youth entrepreneurs
and collect best practices; and Increase the visibility of young entrepreneurs’
businesses, products, and services.
“The central event of each I Am a GYINer National Campaign is business-oriented competition,”
said GYIN-Gambia Secretary Meita Touray in her welcome remarks. “The
competition has two categories: Best Cultural Product and Best Socially
Conscious Business.”
She explains that the former seeks a service or product that
exemplifies the country’s culture or locally available resources, including
traditional clothing or accessories, traditional music or dance, traditional
art etc.
The later seeks an existing business that exemplifies the
belief that businesses should respect and enrich their communities and
environments. “Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each category,” she
said.
International Youth
Day
On 17 December 1999, the UN General Assembly endorse
recommendations made by the world conference of ministers responsible for youth
in Lisbon that August 8-12, 2008 be declared International Youth Day.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Building a Better
World: Partnering with Youth” - which the designers said is a “global call to
action to develop and engage in partnerships with youths.”
“Young people today faced pressing global challenges such as
high level unemployment, vulnerable working conditions, and marginalization
from decision-making processes,” Ms Touray said.
The Day is set aside for us young people to rethink our
achievements and challenges, said Youth Activist and GYIN-Gambia Coach, Mr.
Nfamara Jawneh, who was guest speaker at the event.
He described the theme as “right” hence it is calling for
partnership with the youth. He demanded that young people be involved in
government projects, policies and programmes specifically designed for the
youth.
The lack of involvement of the youth in programmes initiated
in the names of young people has led to the failure of many projects locally
and internationally, said Mr. Jawneh, also a Deputy Editor at The Point tabloid.
Written by Modou S. Joof
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