The Banjul Red Cross branch under the purview of the Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS), is organising the 11th edition of its annual youth gathering on the 26th of December 2009, at the St. Augustine's Senior School hall in Banjul.

This programme is expected to bring together about one thousand young people from different walks of life. The aim of the gathering is to discuss and share issues concerning youths, show out skills of the youths and their participation in national development. The theme of this year's gathering is: "Our world your move".

Youth gathering is one of the most important annual activities of the branch and it is for this reason that the branch's executive on Monday organised a press briefing at the July 22 Square to brief the members of the press about the upcoming youth gathering. Speaking at the press briefing, Momodou Jahateh, the chairman of Banjul Red Cross branch, said the event was initiated eleven years ago and that  the event is meant to bring young people together in order to discuss issues affecting their lives, and to inform the general public about the activities of the branch and raise funds in the form of beauty competitions. He revealed that the event will start with a march past from the July 22nd Square through Independence Drive, the venue for the event.

According to him, thematic areas like climate change, discrimination, flood and water, women and war, among others would be discussed during the gathering. He thanked the volunteers for their commitment towards serving humanity in all aspects and urged them to keep up the momentum. For his part, Arona Jibe, chairman of the organising committee, said preparations are in high gear as they want to make this year's gathering the best in the history of their branch. He said the gathering will help in fostering networks among young people, that issues like HIV/AIDS, increase in disaster, among others would be part of the thematic areas to be discussed.

Julie Janko, Youth Area representative of the Banjul Red Cross branch said the Banjul branch is one of the most active branches among the regions with a membership of two thousand volunteers. She revealed that financial sustainability is the constraint they are faced with and appealed to the general public to support them both morally and financially.

Ebou Sarr, volunteers management coordinator of the GRCS, on behalf of the GRCS management, thanked the Banjul branch for initiating this important gathering, adding that Red Cross is all about voluntarism. He described the theme as very fitting and timely. He urged the volunteers to keep up the momentum in serving humanity.

Anna A Jatta, head of resource mobilising committee thanked Gamcel, Bank PHB, Standard Chartered Bank, among others for their timely intervention and called for more support. Yahya M Darboe, the Banjul Red Cross branch officer chaired the briefing while Jainaba Bah, a member delivered the vote of thanks.