Over forty four youths in Kombo Central in the West Coast Region on Thursday September 29, 2011 received orientation on business entrepreneurship skills on the Junior Achievement (JA).
The orientation which is part of Saamasang Federation  youths empowerment project is the 5th batch to undergo such training in order for  young people to take the lead on their own.
The Federation Manager, Mr. Edrissa Cham addressing the participants urged them to be serious and focus on the training which is provided to them at no cost. He said the training will in no doubt boost the morale of the young people who are opportune enough to be part of the 2011 batch.
‘’Saamasang, a mandinka word meaning buy your tomorrow, will always stand for the development of the young people in all the five community associations,” he said.
Cham, further tasked the participants to be proactive as agents of change who will soon be entrusted to pilot the affairs of their people, noting that both Child Fund The Gambia and Saamasang aim is to have a confident child, healthy and secure and well represented within the five community associations.
The Child and Youth Officer, Amadou Tambedou in a brief statement urged the young people to serve as agent of change as well as contribute in the development of their communities.
Tambedou stated that the training is to provide them with first hand information on entrepreneurship skills and on how to manage a particular business once they have graduated from the training.
Junior Achievement (JA) is a youth entrepreneurship and economic education program introduced in the Gambia by ChildFund The Gambia to help attain skilled and involved youth. The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the World with its youth being jobless due to the sluggish economy coupled with low entrepreneurship skills among others issues. ChildFund The Gambia feels the program can help address the poverty and economic vulnerability of youth by meeting pressing need for youth entrepreneurship skills training and economic education in the targeted communities.
The program provides a mechanism for vulnerable youth to improve their understanding and vision of economic and business, including business ethics. Participants also gain practical business skills crucial in the current environment. These knowledge and skills can help foster further economic and social development and improve the quality of their lives.
The program is in two parts as below:
a.    MMBIZ (My Money Business): this provides youth with tools to establish disciplined money management habits that can carry over into adulthood. It helps avoid young people becoming adults with money management difficulties. If young people are financially literate, they can avoid making costly decisions that can have negative repercussions in their lives for years.
b.    Company Program: the JA Company Program provides an experiential supplement to the business and economic education of the participants. It helps them understand how businesses are organized and operated, introduces them to career opportunities and teaches basic workforce-readiness skills. It also fosters positive relationship between participants and members of the business community.
Objective: By June 2012, 120 youth in Kombo central are equipped with entrepreneurship skills
Methodology: Participants are selected through their various CAs or youth groups. An orientation session is conducted after the selection to help them make informed decision as to their participation. Trainers are drawn from the Federation and the business community (banks, Insurance Companies and individual experience entrepreneurs).  Trainings are conducted twice in a week (2 days per week) to allow participants go on their other businesses. The training starts with MMBIZ followed by the Company Program.  Trainings are both theoretical (including video shows) and practical which includes field visits. Participants are formed into companies according to their CAs. They identify shares and sell them among themselves and outside. Bye laws and business plans are developed followed by a 3 month simulation exercise. At the end of the simulation, a liquidation report is prepared and participants are awarded certificates.  This together with the Federation’s contribution is used for the simulation. Participants are provided with stationeries, food and transport refund during the training proper.
Target beneficiaries: out of school youth in Saamasang (Kombo Central District) with priority to sponsored children
Target Communities in Saamasang: Bafuloto CA, Kabafita CA and Jamisa CA
Training site: Bafuloto CA
Duration: Theory = 16 days and Simulation (practical) = 3 months
 ‘Alieu Mendy, Programme Development Officer for Jamisa, Penyem and Darsilami, and Gibril Fatty, community mobiliser for Bafulotto as well as Dawda Bojang, community mobiliser for Penyem,  all gave similar remarks.
Meanwhile, the training proper as part of the decentralized process of Saamasang Federation is expected to commence on Wednesday October 19, 2011 at Bafulotto.