The Country Representative of AJAP-Gambia, Taslima Jallow and its Secretary General, Isatou Jallow, on Sunday 27th August, 2017 returned home after successfully taking part in Pan-African Youth Forum from the 21st to the 25th August, 2017 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The theme of the programme was “A continent, committed youth: “what is the role of the African youth to get a peaceful, prosperous, strong and united Africa” and the AJAP-Gambia delegation was part of 350 youths from different African countries.
The objective of the forum was the implementation of the strategies of mobilizing youths to efficiently contribute in the peace and security strengthening, gender equality and job creation for an inclusive and sustainable development to take place following the approach laid out by the 2063 AU Agenda and the 2030 SDGs.
The AJAP-Gambia team started operating in February, 2017. The Association for Progressive African Youth (AJAP) has key intervention areas which are Socio-Cultural, Health (Sexual and Reproductive Health), Education, Environmental, Developmental, Communication and Human Rights. It tries to promote the good relationship between young people both national and international in general and between its members in particular.
The Country Representative of AJAP-Gambia, Taslima Jallow, said the forum gave them an opportunity to meet and network with other African young leaders for partnerships and collaborations in their activities in The Gambia.
“I built self-knowledge on leadership to facilitate others through change, strengthen competencies to analyse how different world views influence development and social change, especially on civil society to promote networking, partnership building and strengthening local governance to address our sustainable development need,” he said.
With the knowledge gained, Jallow said he is ready to serve the country to the best of his abilities by coming up with new initiatives and projects such as youth engagement and entrepreneurship development, recreational centres for the youths and awareness creation on rights based approaches.
Isatou Jallow said she felt proud to be part of the AJAP delegation to the forum.
“I was able to network and the platforms created for me was worthwhile in accomplishing my feminist passion in championing issues affecting women and girls around the globe especially the African continent,” he said.
