By MUHAMMED S. BAH
Afour days Training of Trainers (TOT) for 30 young people organised by Activista The Gambia,was concluded on Wednesday, 20 July 
2016, at the Bansang Youth Centre in Central River Region (CRR) South, on the theme ‘Youth participation in governance”.
The training was attended by 28participants from the Gambia and 2 from the neighbouring republic of Senegal.
In his closing remarks, Muhammed Lamin SaidyKhan,the Activista National Coordinator, said Youth participation in Governance is a key element in Activista.
“Activista is here to empower young people in the decision making processes that directly affect their lives, and this cannot be achieved without dealing with issues around governance,” he underscored.
He further highlighted the significance of giving young people the necessary tools as well as the tactics to utilize to hold government or policy makers accountable.
He stressed that this is a paramount issue in the way Activista wants to really see change in the world.
“So young people coming all over the country in the Gambia, ranging from national youth organisations, Activista regional chapters as well as school Networks and Senegal, have really manifested that if young people are empowered, they can really bring about a change,” said Activista National Coordinator.
Mr. Saidykhan expressed hope that the participants will make a replica of such trainings to their respective communities.
He also expressed hope that this training will help young people to adopt approaches in fighting against human right abuse and injustice in their respective societies or communities.
Sainabou Jallow, a participant and the Head Girl of Kerewan Senior Secondary School,stressed that the training is very important to her.
“This training has helped me to understand how to do power analyses and its importance,” she noted.
She also promised to disseminate the lessons learnt to her colleagues in school.
Miss Aminata Ndongo, deputizing the Regional Youth Chairperson, described the forum as productive and essential. “The young people who are the agents of change have an immense duty in moving the Gambia forward,” she said.
She noted that the forum enabled them to learn more about governance as well as to interact and share ideas amongst themselves.
Awa Sowe and Ndey Sirrah Mboge, the two participants from Senegal,have both expressed delight to be associated with such a training which they said had increased their awareness regarding issues in the Gambia.
Ansumana Camara, National Training Coordinator, for his part, commended the participants for honouring their invitation to take part in what he decribed as a creditable forum.
Fatoumatta Touray and Lamin Sanneh, two delegatesfrom Banjul, Modou E. Jasseh from North Bank Region (NBR), Arokey Sanyang and Mbassy Manneh from West Coast Region (WCR) and Fanta Kongira from have all thanked the organisers for initiating such a training to boost their capacities and understanding of issues relating to youth participation in governance.
During the course of the four day training, the participants were taken through the following modules: Understanding Youth, Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA), Understanding Democracy and Just Governance, Analysing Social Accountability in Governance, Unpacking Youth Participation, Space and Power, Creative Youth Activism. They were presented by Mr. SaidyKhan, Activista Coordinator, and Saikou Kawsu Gassama, Program Specialist Governance and Partnership, Action Aid the Gambia.
