By Ndey Sowe
The International Trade Center in The Gambia has through its youth empowerment project’s Andandorr program and She Trade project The Gambia concluded a training program on “Technical Fashion Design”.
The initiative is aimed at availing Gambian products the opportunity to compete both nationally and internationally to ensuring the continuous development of technical capacities of young fashion designers in The Gambia.
The training, which was a follow up session, comprised 45 women and young fashion designers in The Gambia. And the training session was delivered by a renowned international designer from Senegal.
On Friday, 19th March, 2021 an official closing ceremony was observed to mark the end of the training held at Gaye Njoro Skills Center in Brusubi.
Anna Wadda, from the Ministry of Trade and representing She Trade Project in The Gambia, expressed her delight for the ending of the training, saying it took a while before they got a suitable consultant to conduct the training. She shared her optimism that the training was beneficial because participants got to learn a lot from it.
“We realized at the beginning of the project that in terms of finishing and sometimes the sizing and certain things are a bit off when it comes to ‘Made in The Gambia’ fashion products,” she said.
Wadda said this prompted them to identify someone who could work on the final touches to make sure that Gambian products are able to compete both nationally and internationally.
Mamadou Diop Diallo, Director General MOSTYLE, who is also the lead trainer from Senegal, expressed gratitude for being the lead trainer of what he called “one of the best training sessions” he had ever done with others.
“I have attended many training elsewhere, but the one in The Gambia is the best so far because of the commitment and dedication shown by participants’ designers,” he said.
Diallo advised the participants to use the skills and knowledge gained from the training seriously for them to be able to expand in their various institutions, saying opportunity comes but once. He also implored them to be professionals in whatever they are doing.
Raimund A. Moser, the International Trade Center Representative in The Gambia, remarked that his office continues to make headways in its strive to develop the capacities of young people, enhance their entrepreneurial skills and boost their economic growth through the various projects implemented in the country.
Rebecca Oli Jallow and Mariama Ceesay, both participants, thanked all stakeholders for the laudable initiative that seeks to ensure they benefit from economic participation.
