By Amadou Manjang
The Ministry of Youth and Sport on Monday held a daylong town meeting with the young people at the Presidential Awards Scheme office in Bakau.
The Town Hall Meeting focused on issues and concerns affecting young people in KM.
The discussion was centered on thematics areas such as youth skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, sport, gender and disability, health, wellbeing and partnership etc.
According to the Deputy CEO of KMC, Mr. Nyang, the engagement is to understand the challenges young people are facing and the realities surrounding their lives.
“Youth energy is a powerful tool if it is utilized properly,” he said.
He said the meeting provides a platform to address social challenges facing the youth through constructive dialogue and he called on the young people to make best use of the meeting.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary Bully Dibba, said the meeting provides a platform to clarify priorities as well as give practice recommendations for youth participation and development in the country.
Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sport stated that they create a platform for young people to interface with relevant stakeholders. He said this is an opportunity to listen to each other.
He said the government needs to know the concerns of the youth and the youth need to know the government is handling issues affecting them such as drug abuse, irregular migration.
He pointed out that the government is tackling the issues and their role is to make awareness about it which cannot happen without dialogue.
During the sessions, several youth participants and leaders raised concerns over sporting facilities, irregulation migration, education, skills development, entrepreneurship, gender and disability as well as health wellbeing.
Responding to the issues and concerns, The Minister Bakary Y. Badjie and his permanent secretary stated that the government is committed to address the issues and concerns, further reaffirment the Ministry’s commitment to youth welfare and partnership.
