By: Momodou Gagigo
Nearly 300 young people from across the Central River Region gathered in Kaur this weekend for the annual Youth Convergence, pressing regional and national authorities to treat youth as partners in development rather than an afterthought.
The four-day meeting, running from September 5 to 8, is being held under the theme “One Youth, One Voice: Advancing Peace, Unity, Climate Action and Community Resilience.” Delegates include youth representatives, government officials, local authorities, community leaders and institutional partners. The program combines lectures, interactive sessions, practical training, cultural performances, march-pasts and scout band displays.
At the opening, CRR Youth Chairman Abdoulie Jawara said unemployment, irregular migration along the so-called “back way,” and environmental degradation remain the most urgent threats facing young people in rural communities. He warned that limited economic opportunities risk pushing youth into dangerous alternatives.
“As youth, we call upon all the regional authorities and government stakeholders to swiftly respond to our collective plea for accelerated youth development,” Jawara said. He urged greater investment in education, skills training, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure to close the gap between rural and urban areas.
Kuntaur Area Council Chairman Saikou Jawara rejected the familiar claim that young people are only “leaders of tomorrow.” Young people, he said, are already farmers, traders, technologists and community organisers.
“You are leaders of today. Any decision I make as chairperson of Kuntaur Area Council that does not include youth is a decision that will fail,” he told the gathering. He acknowledged the high cost of training, persistent joblessness and the effects of climate change, while noting the growing role of young women in entrepreneurship, public health, management and technology.
Mustapha Njie, Alkalo of Kaur, appealed for an end to ethnic and other forms of discrimination among young people. Unity, he argued, is a practical requirement if youth are to tackle national problems.
“When we say one youth, are you together? Then there should not be any discrimination. Youth is youth. You have to speak one voice and come together,” Njie said. He called on participants to intensify work on peace, climate action and community resilience.
Saiba T. Susso of ActionAid International The Gambia described the convergence as more than a ceremonial gathering. “Today this gathering is more than just an event; it’s a platform where ideas meet action, where inspiration finds direction, and where young people come together to shape a dialogue for an inclusive future,” she said.
Central River Region Governor Ousman Bah said the meeting’s value lies in what participants take home. Young people from different backgrounds, he said, should leave with knowledge, friendships and a commitment to share what they have learned.
“The youth are the cream of this country. Once you have them well informed and committed to building resilience, togetherness and friendship, the benefits will extend to the wider community,” Bah said.
Speakers repeatedly returned to a single point: with youth forming a large share of The Gambia’s population, development plans that exclude them will fail. Delegates are expected to return to their communities with new networks and a mandate to press for jobs, inclusion and stronger local responses to climate change.
