This year’s camp which opened Monday is the third edition and as usual will be followed by an international one to be staged in Ziguinchor later this month.
The camp features various sporting disciplines including for the first time, cricket. The theme for this year’s event is re-orienting the youth on the challenge for Gambians towards vision 2016.
In his opening address the minister of Youth and Sports, Alieu Jammeh, disclosed that one of the main objectives of the camp was to bring together young people from different backgrounds to recognise the values of equality.
He urged participants to take the activity seriously as it will change them positively to become good leaders in the future.
Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje, the UNDP representative in The Gambia said youths constituted almost 40 percent of the population and for this reason they are important if the country is to realise its development aspirations.
She also urged them to take their education seriously because that is the only way they can change their lives to become better people in the future. “Education is what can lift you out of poverty, desperation and the eagerness to jump into boats and kill yourself,” she said.
The governor of West Coast region Aminata Siffai Hydara expressed her region’s delight at hosting the event. Governor Hydara said the youth camp is an activity that positively fights against vulnerabilities such as illegal migration, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, crime and poverty. Madam Hydara donated D5,000 to the camp.
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