A Bakau Newtown community based youth organisation, Side by Side on Saturday formally launched its first-ever strategic plan with a vision to, among others, enhance the country’s education sector with a focus on youth education.
Formerly called United Youth Association, the youth organisation has also stated in its 2012-2014 strategic plan that it intends to raise the awareness of Gambian youth, particularly on life threatening issues such as AIDS and social ills, as well as protect and promote the rights and welfare of youth and children.
Among the distinguished personalities at the launched, which was held at the newly built KMC multi-purpose hall at Jimpex Road in Kanifing was Mr Mercel Mendy, the executive secretary of National Youth Council, the country’s umbrella youth body.
“This line-up has now become a phenomenon among the youth folk in their drive to coming out with brilliant ideas,” admitted Mr Mendy.
He challenged Side by Side to endeavor to implement the vision of the strategic document to the letter while assuring his council’s support.
Mr Mendy added: “NYC will go through the profiles of all registered organisations within the four corners of the country in a bid to propel them to develop such a document rather than mere existence without shaping lives.”
Mr Hatab Fadera, the national coordinator of Side by Side described the launch of the strategic plan as a moment of joy and the blueprint, a challenging vision that should be accomplished.
A journalist working at Daily Observer newspaper, one of The Gambia’s most circulated papers, Mr Fadera said, his organisation has since inception in 2005 implemented a number of development programmes, which impacted on the lives of beneficiaries.
“The strategic plan is provided to help the organisation to focus on key areas, namely education, sexual and reproductive health, rights and environmental protection,” he said.
Mr Fadera urged the donors and development partners to support them where and when needed.
Other speakers at the event included, Mr Momodou Bah, a representative of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and Mr Yankuba Senghore, the administrative officer of Side by Side.