P2RS Training Rural Youth to Become Self-Reliant

Undertaking perilous journeys to Europe via deserts and high seas has been the thought of many young Gambians (male and female) – who often cite the “lack of opportunities” at home. (Photo Credit: M.E.Njie)

The overall goal of the Building Resilience against Food Insecurity in the Sahel (P2RS) project is to raise effective knowledge and skills on rural women and youth to become self reliant, according to officials.

“One of the key activities of the training will focus on guideline on writing business plans thus the training has been designed to be practical with exercises to provide skills,” Olimatou S. Tamba, Assistant Business Development Officer of the project, said.

She said that the training is designed to upgrade effective knowledge and skills on business development in rural regions, when she spoke at November 14-17 training at the Microfinance Centre in Brikamaba, Central River Region.

Tamba said she hopes that the discussions in the training and the information shared will be applied effectively by rural youth in their business careers.

She also encourages the participants (women and men) drawn from CRR North and South to share experiences and exchange information among themselves for their benefit.

Ousman Colley, Regional Agricultural Director, CRR South, said trainings like the P2RS will immensely improve the livelihood of rural youth and women. He said the business plans developed by the participants can be use to get funding from agricultural projects.

He reminded participants of the agricultural funding like the matching grants which he said are meant for Gambian farmers. He said the women and the youth should endeavor to submit bankable business plans to have access to finance.

Ade Joseph Taylor, Executive Group Ltd, Partner Manager, and trainer, said a second level training will be organized for the participants. It will be based on performance and the best will be selected.

Olimatou S. Tamba (Photo Credit: M.E.Njie)

He said that an assessment will be conducted at the end of the training to select the best for the next level.

The participants were selected from Nema/P2RS partners: the Women’s Bureau, Global Youth Innovation Network Gambia Chapter (GYIN Gambia), the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI), the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) among others. 

Participants are awarded certificates of participation. The P2RS project is a component managed by the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema).  

The P2RS project is also meant to build the entrepreneurial skills of women and young people to reduce the dependency rate and to eradicate irregular migration to Europe.

Undertaking perilous journeys to Europe via deserts and high seas has been the thought of many young Gambians (male and female) – who often cite the “lack of opportunities” at home.

Since 2010, more than 500 Gambians have died trying to reach Europe in rickety boats and via dangerous deserts.

 

Written by Modou S. Joof

Follow on Google+

Follow on Twitter: @thenorthbankeve

Follow on Facebook: The North Bank Evening Standard