By Ebrima AB Jallow
Beakanyang, a grassroots organisation in the Upper River Region, on Saturday joined the rest of the world to mark International Peace Day.
The United Nations theme for this year’s celebration is Climate Action for Peace.
The local NGO celebrated the day with a massive tree planting in Nyakoi Kerewan at a woodland own and managed by women with support from Beakanyang.
Speaking on the occasion, the executive director of Beakanyang, Nfamara Jawneh, reminded participants about the significance of the day.
“For us at Beakanyang, today is very unique as it coincides with our climate change behavioral change communication training for traditional communicators and also the implementation of our peace program in the region,” he said.
He urged community members to maintain peace at all times and to love one another to live harmoniously.
According to Jawneh, the theme is relevant and serves as a challenge for people to take concrete climate actions and to remain peaceful.
“It’s important to remind ourselves that we cannot have peace when we are experiencing climate-related disasters like windstorm, flooding and drought,” he said.
He thanked the women and men of Kerewan and Madina Koto for their active participation in the exercise.
“We must put aside our political and other differences and foster peace in our communities at all times,” Jawneh remarked.
Jawneh also hailed the Regional Forestry Office in Basse for donating them with some trees and urged community members to take good care of the planted trees.
Jaka Dibbasy and Sireng Ceesay, presidents of Kerewan and Madina Koto Beakanyang Kafos, expressed happiness in mobilising their community members for such an important activity.
They thanked Beakanyang organisation for supporting vulnerable communities to take anti-climate actions.
Meanwhile, as part of the exercise, about one hundred trees of various species including mangoes and cashews were planted at the woodland and Nyakoi Senior Secondary School.
The International Day of Peace, sometimes unofficially known as World Peace Day, is a UN-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September.
