At least 66 participants of the Peace Ambassador Gambia on Friday graduated at a ceremony held at the Joint Officers Mess in Kotu. Peace Ambassadors Gambia is a peace education and advocacy organisation established in The Gambia on the 7th May 2001. The organisation strives to empower young people to build social responsibility and be provided with alternative informed choices in dealing with violence.

Speaking at the event, Lamin Sanyang, the president Peace Ambassadors Gambia, explained that all the grandaunts have been fully registered and had undergone a recruitment exercise which makes them youth ambassadors after graduation. He revealed that this is their 6th graduation ceremony under the Peace Education Programme and the 2nd for the National Youth Leadership Training Programme. The day, he said,is a day of reflection, decoration, recognition, celebration, enjoyment and thanksgiving for successful completion of a six-month and seven days training for peace educators and youth leaders respectively.

Sanyang noted that the lack of peace, and its effects are not generally given an indepth study and analysis. “This often results to ignorance and limited collective global action to create a sustainable peaceful environment for humanity, this is a major issue for us, it is our belief that once people understand global problems, healthy living conditions and the skills to resolve conflicts and struggle for justice and non-violently, living by the standards of human rights and equity, appreciate cultural diversity and respect for each other, then human survival and development can be guaranteed,” he said.

For his part, Abdou FB Boye, the coordinator of Peace Ambassadors Gambia said that the Peace Ambassadors Gambia recruitment is open to everyone who attains the age of 13 and is inspired and willing to volunteer irrespective of nationality, sex, class, profession, academic qualification or gender. He further stated that in refocusing and redirecting their programme development, the creative and leadership potential of people ensure their maximum participation in nation and international development and to promote international partnership in conflict prevention and peace building.

Boye revealed that, they challenge themselves as an organisation to organise an annual Nation Leadership Training for all interested youth organisations and individuals. “It was the motivation by the successful implementation of last year’s leadership training. This year marked the second National Youth Leadership Training which took place at the Sukuta Upper Basic School from the 9th – 14th April 2012, a training that attracted 34 youth in which 32 are gathered to be certified as youth leaders,” he added.

The executive secretary, Fabakary Kalleh expressed his heartfelt gratitude at seeing the graduates as full members of the organisation. He said that the organisation is operating in all the regions of The Gambia, and has transformed the lives of many people due to the numerous trainings they offered ranging from understanding peace and conflict, to communication skills, human rights, gender perspective in peace building, conflict resolution and the role of security and stakeholders in peace building, among others. Kalley finally expressed appreciation to all their partners and work maid who contributed to the success of the gathering.