By Olimatou Coker
A week long entrepreneurship boot camp on business plan development and food processing organised by Gold Award Holders Association (GAHA) in partnership with Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC) recently concluded at President International Award (GIA).
The boot camp funded by Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) brought together 85 young people.
Speaking at the closing, Baboucarr Kebbeh CEO GYCC thanked partners, saying he hopes their partnership continues in serving young people.
According to him the Gambia they want is where young people are trained and well-informed.
He told participants that they hope to see them establish their own businesses as well as interact well with customers.
He congratulated participants for being able to process food within the few days of the camp.
Abdou Bojang, CEO Jama School of Food Processing and Preservation who was the lead trainer of the camp urged participants to be innovative. He called on parents not to question or discourage their children when they want to start businesses but rather encourage them.
According to him, food processing and preservation is not a job only meant for women.
Sainey Drammeh, Executive Director PIA described entrepreneurship as a risky activity in which a business person should be ready to face challenges.
He observed that during fruits season in the Gambia a lot of fruits go to waste due to lack of processing materials and training and therefore the importance of the camp cannot be overemphasized.
He urged participants to help minimize or eliminate that waste of fruits after undergoing the camp.
National Youth Council Executive Director Lamin Darboe said young people should be committed and determine to be job creators and not job seekers.
Rymond Moser YEP Project Manager said business and entrepreneurship skills can help develop young people.
He described knowledge and skills as the real value of the 21st century, while urging participants to utilize the knowledge gained during the camp.
