Activista – the Gambia Holds Two Day Consultative Forum

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Abubacarr Saidykhan

28 April 2011

Activista the Gambia concluded a two day consultative forum on the 23rd and 24th April 2011 on the campaign for a ‘Hunger Free World’ at Gambia Christian Council on the MDI road in Kanifing North. The participants included media practitioners, students, youth activist, and representatives from the Action Aid Th Gambia. The forum was centered around the discussion on the way forward and the work of Activista in the Gambia.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Ousainou O. Jallow, the former Coordinator of Activista / AYCAH, said they are training young people on capacity building throughout the whole world. The work of Activista, he said, rests on four main pillars which are; National Networks, Capacity Building, Shared Learning and Global Campaign setting of other Networks. He urged the young people to gather as a matter of necessity and fight against hunger in the world.

Mr. Jallow said their main objective is to set up national platform, adding that they want to have the activities of Activista felt in all parts of the Gambia. He said they are recognise in many international for a, noting that with the support that they are currently getting from Action Aid The Gambia they will be able to improve their stance on the hunger free campaign.

Addressing the forum, Mr. Momodou Jallow, the Action Aid Food Right and Capacity Building Manage, said AATG is working tirelessly to support these young organizations to attain their objectives and that they are also working in facilitating the work of Activista the Gambia. He said they have so far spent D400, 000 in support of the campaign, adding that all they are doing is to enhance a hunger free campaign in the whole world.

He said they are also targeting to tackle the problem of abject poverty and that the government of the Gambia has to be also involved in the whole campaign. He said the first thing is to solve the root cause of poverty from the grass root level. He finally noted that lack of information is leading to many people in poverty.

Mr. Jallow also noted that the principal aim of this two day forum is to better equip the students and youth in line with Activista’s strategic areas hence creating a benchmark for future development initiatives that is school and community gardening, canteens advocacy and activism.

Lamin Saidykhan the current coordinator of AYCAH/ ACTIVISTA the Gambia, gave a presentation on issues that led to the planning and formation of the network. Mr. Saidykhan said Activista is currently operating in 28 countries worldwide and its main aim is to fight against hunger. He said 65% of the world population are young, adding that this why Activista is targeting the involvement of the youth. He stressed that the youth are the key instrument of development of every country in particular and the world at large. He said youths are the drivers of change and that they are also campaign soldiers and have a greater say in world decision.

Presenting on the objectives of Activista, Mr. Lamin Saidykhan said capacity building for any young person is paramount in any development of any sector, noting that they also have a website for young people in order to capacitize them for a hunger free world.

He said if actions are done globally, something will be done indicating that they are also pursuing African governments to give their intended 10% of their budgets allocations to development agriculture in any country. He said there is injustice in this world noting that the world should be free from hunger. He said there is enough food in the world stock which could be sufficient for the usage of the whole world for a period of five years but the reverse is what is happening. He said we should be ready to free the world from hunger.

Mr. Baba Saidykhan presented on ‘Global Hunger Crisis, case study in Africa’.

Mr. Lamin Nyagado of Action Aid also addressed the gathering.

Activista is said to be an Action Aid network of students and young people across rich and poor countries campaigning for a hunger free world. They seek to address principal core issues responsible for the causes of hunger especially in the developing countries, and the most affected by hunger. It also provides a unique opportunity for youth to engage in meaningful activities supporting the vision and mission of Action Aid. They are hosted by the African youth Coalition against Hunger, Gambia Chapter.

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