By Tabora Bojang
Tech4All Gambia, a youth-led initiative supporting tech development for women, children and low rural income earners in the Gambia, on Thursday held a graduation for 25 girls trained in web development and multimedia.
The graduates underwent four months of rigorous training under a project supported by the US Embassy, aiming to teach young girls life time digital skills and entrepreneurship.
The training was jointly conducted by Smart Technology and Skills.gm.
The president for Tech4All Gambia Suun Faye, congratulated the graduates for their demonstration of courage and determination throughout the course of the program, which according to her has gone a long way in preparing them to make better decisions in their future endeavours.
Ms. Faye stated her organisation had conducted series of trainings and programs geared towards bridging the gaps in accessing tech for young people since its formation in 2018.
She hailed the US Embassy for complementing the efforts of her organisation in its drive to ensure young people make best use of tech as it has come to be a fundamental human right.
Ousman Faal, a trainer and mentor with Smart Technology, urged the graduates to take these opportunities as a beginning of a new journey in their lives.
He emphasised the need for young people to consider skills development as a cornerstone for economic and individual development.
“This is one step in life. Success is where preparation meets opportunity so you never know where the skills can take you,” Faal advised.
Trainer Faal disclosed that the graduates have what it takes to make great strides in their careers, having already created a website for Tech4All and a new logo.
US Ambassador to The Gambia Richard Paschall, described it as an honour and privilege for his office to support Tech4All and other young Gambians.
“The US Government believes that every person has a huge value and worth to contribute in his or her own way to the advancement of their community and the whole of human kind. The opportunities that Tech4All is providing to young women in the Gambia are really invaluable and just applaud them for their initiative, compassion and caring and desire on the part of all the people who participated in the program,” Ambassador Paschall said.
Guest speaker Sheriff Dibba who served in the British Army and now working as senior tech assistant in Denmark, advised the graduates to continue to be determined and passionate to achieve bigger dreams in the technology as it attracts quick employment, higher pay and easy career growth among others.
Elizabeth Kuhlemann, a graduate, gave the vote of thanks on behalf of her colleagues.
