As part of preparations ahead of the 3rd edition of the Rural Youth Awards 2019 (#GYINGambiaRYA2019) to be organized by GYIN Gambia on 25th -27th, April 2019 at Wuli West, Upper River Region (URR), the GYIN secretariat together with the National and Regional Organizing Committee of the event recently launched a massive courtesy visits to its various partners and well-wishers across the length and breadth of the country.
The purpose of the visits is to inform partners and at the same time seek their blessings for the success of the forthcoming event.
The rationale for the Rural Youth Awards is to recognise and celebrate the achievements of rural youth in entrepreneurship and agribusiness and to provide some financial support to deserving rural youths.
This year’s award package stands at D35, 000.00 to each awardee plus six months mentorship. The theme of event is “DISCOVERING RURAL VALUE CHAIN BY PUTTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN AGRICULTURAL VALUE ADDITION”.
The 5-man National Organizing Committee, set up by GYIN Gambia to coordinate the awards night alongside other planned events, are also taking a lead in the courtesy visits to partners together with the GYIN secretariat. These members include: Sarjo Jarju- Chairperson, Hagie Bajaha, Deputy Chairperson, Fatou Dahaba-Public Relations Officer, Fatou Colley-Financial Controller and Hawa Singateh-Secretary. In the same vein, the GYIN secretariat also established a Sub-Regional Organizing Committee (ROC) in URR which is headed by Mariama Krubally and other GYINers to do the ground preparations.
VISIT TO YEP PROJECT
On 11th February 2019, the team headed by the GYIN Gambia Executive Director, Mamadou Edrisa Njie together with the Financial Controller, Mariam Saine and the NOC Chairperson, Mr Sarjo Jarju visited one of their long-term partners, the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) Gambia to brief them on the preparations for the event.
During the meeting at the YEP office in Bakau, Njie dilated on the proposed plans in place which include visits to other partners and publicity on the social media to announce the event.
He commended the YEP project team for the fruitful partnerships with GYIN Gambia in providing financial muscle in the implementation of their activities over the years.
Since the inception of YEP Gambia, according to the GYIN ED, his organization has benefited from lots of funding availing them the opportunity to realized their aims and objectives in supporting rural youth.
For her part, the YEP Project Coordinator and Senior Technical Adviser, Mrs Fatou Mbenga Jallow welcomed the team and gave them series of words of wisdom for the success of the programme.
As usual, she promised that YEP will fully come on board to support the event.
Others present at the meeting were the YEP project Director, Raimund Moser and Baboucarr Sallah, Finance.
VISIT TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
As the theme for this year’s Rural Youth Awards 2019 has special emphasis on agricultural value addition, GYIN Gambia deemed it fitting to engage the Department of Agriculture as a key stakeholder in the sector to seek their blessings.
The team met the Director of Agriculture, Dr Saikou Sanyang on Monday 11th February, at his office in Cape Point, Bakau to update him and at the same time officially invite him as a stakeholder in celebrating the success of youths in the agricultural value chain.
Dr Sanyang enthusiastically commended the team for coming up with such an initiative. He reaffirmed that recognizing the efforts of rural youth is in line with President Adama Barrow’s Government Blueprint-National Development Plan (NDP), which will no doubt contribute in the attainment of its intended objectives.
He also pledged to provide technical support fulltime and to personally grace the occasion in his capacity as the Director of the Department of Agriculture.
VISIT TO URR GOVERNOR, WASDA AGRICULTURAL TRANING CENTER
On the first week of February 2019, the team paid a courtesy call to the Governor of the Upper River Region (URR), Mrs Fanta Bojang Samateh Manneh at her office in Basse, as the custodian of the host region for the event.
Prior to the visit, the ROC Chairperson, Mariama Krubally facilitated the ground for the meeting with the honorable Governor and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) as well as the WASDA Center in Wuli West-venue for the Awards.
The Governor hailed the initiation and expressed interest in the programme. She affirmed her office support in leveling the ground for the hosting of the Rural Youth Awards 2019.
For the WASDA Director, Mr Kebba M. Sillah expressed readiness and willingness to successfully host the event. The team was further taken on a conducted tour to inspect the facilities at the center.
In a related development, the team used the opportunity to visit the department of Agriculture in URR and the National Youth Council (NYC) regional office to update them on the forthcoming event.
MEETING WITH NEDI, OTHERS
During the visit to the Executive Director of the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI), Mr Abass Bah at his office on Kairaba Avenue highway, the team leader, Mamadou Edrisa Njie thanked him for the warm welcome accorded them and further hinted him on the awards preparations.
After congratulating the team, the NEDI boss recommended a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the institutions in a bid to further strengthen the already existing partnership.
He assured that they are fully behind the team and will do any means necessary to support the event in their capacity as a satellite institution of the Ministry of Youth and Sports by linking GYIN Gambia with other development partners like the UNFPA, FASDEP etc.
In the same vein, the team further paid a visit to the Executive Director of the Beakanyang Kafoo, Mr Nfamara Jawneh at his office in Serrekunda to officially inform him about the event.
While endorsing the initiative, he promised to support the event as part of his NGO’s efforts in uplifting the livelihood standards of young Gambians with focus on young farmers’ rights.
He commended GYIN Gambia for its previous successful awards, and assured to work with his team in sharing the event with other CBOs in the country particularly those in URR.
In addition, Mr Jawneh reassured the NOC to always feel free to knock his door at any time needed.
Furthermore, the NOC took the initiative to visit the Executive Director of Gaye Njorro, Mrs Fatou Saine-Gaye at her office in Brusubi.
During the meeting, she expressed interest to be part and parcel of the upcoming event and participate fully in making it a success.
As a woman of substance, she pledged to deliver a full lecture at the Entrepreneurship Training for young nominees at the programme.
More updates to be posted soon.