At least ten senior members of The United Youth Association, a voluntary organization in The Gambia, have been recently awarded as Ambassadors For Peace by the Universal Peace Federation and the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace, during a well attended ceremony held at the Bakau Newtown Community Centre.

Consistent with their mission to establish world peace, the Universal Peace Federation and the Inter-religious and International Peace Federation for World Peace acknowledged as Ambassadors for Peace, those individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to the practices which promote the founding ideals of UPF and IIFWP.

The awardees included Musa Conteh, Hatab Fadera, Kawsu Jaiteh, and Isatou Bah, president, secretary general, program coordinator and financial secretary of the United Youth Association respectively. Other recipients of this ambassador award included Muhammed Jadama, Lamin Manneh, Muhammed Baldeh, Lamin Sawanneh, Lamin Jabang, and Yaya Touray, senior members of the association. Officially handing over the awards on behalf of the UPF and the IIFWP, Beverly Berndt, Service For Peace advisor, who is also the coordinator of the Side By Side project, hailed the awardees for the achievement, and went on to acknowledge their selfless service to the society over the years.

Musa Conteh, president of the United Youth Association, hailed the Universal Peace Federation and the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace, through Madam Berndt for recognizing their role in the society. "This is a very important achievement in my life. It is something that will further motivate me to continue rendering selfless service to my society," said Musa Conteh, while noting that the award also serves as a source of inspiration to young people and other people in general.

Conteh spoke at length about the selfless services that his association has been rendering to the society since its inception four years ago. As young people, the UYA president noted that they have a critical role to play in the cause of unifying and advancing the society. He makes reference to the name of his association, noting that key among its objectives is to contribute to the existing unity among the young folk.

Commending the UPF and IIFWP for this prestigious award, Conteh hailed Madam Berndt for being a source of inspiration to young people. In the same vein, he implored on the young folk to contribute to the cause of their society. Hatab Fadera, secretary general of the association expressed similar sentiments and joined his president in commending the UPF and the IIFWP through Madam Berndt for such a prestigious award.

While noting that such an award serves as a source of inspiration to young people, Fadera maintained that young people have a great role in the advancement of their society. Similar sentiments were echoed by Isatou Bah, and Kawsu Jaited, financial secretary and program coordinator of the association.