Youth group cleans Bakau

Speaking at the exercise, Chris Hayter, founder and president of the Oasis Project in UK said her group has aims to promote good and healthy environment in Gambian communities. According to her, the Oasis Project would support and facilitate health, education and community programmes. She said that an eye screening programme and fund raising were organized in 2009 as part of activities to entrench good health.
“Money is sent from the Oasis Project of UK to The Gambia to assist the poor families in their basic needs such as rice, oil, and cleansing materials,” she said.

For Malang Keita, president of the youth association, they organize campaigns, workshop, and work with schools in order to educate the people of the advantages of environmental sanitation as well as on the disadvantages of leaving the environment untidy.

According to Lamin Saidy, treasurer of the association, the association has been sponsoring youngsters and their families through the funds raised from the UK.

“God help those who help themselves. As we believe in God, people cannot just rely on associations to help maintain the environment; but they should also take part in cleaning their areas and avoid throwing waste or encouraging stagnant water in the gutters.”

Lamin Mai Bandeh, president of the Bakau Mosque Community thanked the Oasis Project for its efforts in developing Bakau. He said: “I was told about their development mission in Bakau pertaining to the mosque area. Everybody should welcome these people and whosoever is in this kind of activity because they are helping the environment.” He added that announcement will be made in the mosque so that people are sensitized on the ills of throwing wastes around.

According to him, the youths are doing a great job by joining the association and responding to calls for their participation in development initiatives. He then urged them to encourage fellow youths to come forward and take part in such activities, noting that such activities test their leadership mien which would be necessary for the future.

“The government is doing all to help in maintaining the health of this country by giving out Saturdays between the hour of 9 am to 1 pm in order for people to use that time and clean both their houses and surroundings. Materials are supplied by governments, associations and even some residents. If you clean your house, you clean your surroundings; then you clean the nation.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the executive director of National Youth Council, Mr. Marchel Mendy said the NYC, established by the government in 2000, has responsibilities to facilitate networking of Gambian youths and those of African countries and beyond, and to monitor the operation of all youth groups in the country. According to him, the NYC is mandated to register all youths in the country, mobilize funds and organize youth activities at national and local levels.

He noted that as the umbrella body of all youth organizations, they also have constraints. “It’s important that organizations come forward to help in the quest to empower the young people. The young people are the future leaders and as such it’s overwhelmingly vital to empower the young people with the requisite skill, knowledge and attitude so that they can fit squarely in the position of leadership should the time come for them to take over the mantle of leadership of this country.”