Youth
empowerment is a process where children and young people are encouraged to take
charge of their lives. They do this by addressing their situation and then take
action in order to improve their access to resources and transform their
consciousness through their beliefs, values, and attitudes. Youth is the time
of life when one is young, and often means the time between childhood and
adulthood (maturity). It is also defined as "the appearance, freshness,
vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young".
Do
you remember as a child being asked the age old question: What do you want to
be when you grow up? I can remember the answer changing every time someone
would ask me. I wanted to be a Journalist, Manager, Nurse, Teacher and a Police
Officer. More distinctly, I remember telling my family and friends I wanted to be
a President. My mother would smile and say, “Yes Alieu, you can be whatever you
want to be through hard work, dedication and devotion for excellence.” Family,
friends and my mentor Dr. ABS Taal (May his soul rest in perfect peace) all
encouraged me to pursue my career in global development. There are countless
number of people who have supported me along the way. I am sure you can also
think back to a moment in time when someone believed in you and encouraged you
to move in that direction towards realizing your dreams.
The
Gambia youth are very talented beyond all human imagination and they should be
given the platform and the tools to collaborate and solve problem, brainstorm
and reflect in a way that can make The Gambia great. Providing youth with the
information and resources necessary for analyzing issues that affect their
lives and environments will help them become strong strategizers on ways to act
as change agents in their respective communities. Empowering youth to
understand that their voice makes a huge difference in this world and that all
ideas are worth exploring will only give them more motivation and fuel to
continue strengthening their own power for change for a better Gambia that will
one day be the last place of hope on earth.
Over
the past several years, I have attended a variety of events led by the United
Nations and other organizations. At many youth-focused events there has been
one very significant component missing: YOUTH. Young people need an actual
space at the table to share their views, opinions and about the great work they
are doing. These lessons are not rocket science. However, you might be
surprised at how infrequently these lessons are being utilized by companies,
organizations, governments and communities. Let’s all work together to empower
young people and pass the torch of leadership on to them.
The
last time I checked there are different stages to a project and the first stage
is having an idea but there are many stages after that. This will help them
understand the full process and not get stuck on one idea. They should be encouraged
to speak about to their triumphs often, to share their victories across all
media platforms to reinforce the positive change that has occurred in the New
Gambia. This will empower more positive action to continue and give youth more
foundation and support to work from for a better Gambia.
Unemployment
is soaring and the economy is tanking, but with the help of the private sector
and a dose of entrepreneurial flair, young people can forge their futures. The
Government should come up with tangible project that will aim at increasing the
economic productivity of youth in The Gambia, and improve their livelihoods
through sustainable income generating activities.
The
project should be involve providing
entrepreneurship development and capacity building activities to the youth and
women in The Gambia, rehabilitating youth involved in prostitution, drug abuse,
armed robbery and preventing others from engaging in such risky behaviors that
might sake the peace of The Gambia. Key project activities include cottage industrial
skills training and business support.
The
Gambia has a big youth population, majority of whom are poor, uneducated and
are unemployed. Most of these youth have resorted to drug abuse causing high
prevalence rate of mental illnesses. The female youth resort to prostitution as
a quick way of earning money for a leaving.
There
is an urgent need to initiate a youth-led cottage industry program for the
making and selling of bread, fruit juice, detergents, crafts, and other
ornaments. Starting a youth-led businesses development program that will see
the creation of at list 3000 girl-led businesses. Carryout youth rehabilitation
activities for 2000 youths addicted to alcohol, drug abuse, and prostitution. Entrepreneurship training and support activities
of 5000 trainees in the country for a start.
To
realize the dividend, the Barrow lead administration must invest in the
empowerment, education and employment of her young people. There are thousands of
young people in The Gambia today, representing a staggering amount of human
potential. Yet too many of them are trapped in poverty, with few opportunities
to learn or to earn a decent standard living.
By.
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Political Activist
Prof.jarjou@gmail.com
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