The Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO) an international non-governmental organisation based in Norway, on Friday pre-launched a culture kids programme at Kombo Beach Hotel in Kotu.

Speaking at the launching, Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, minister for Tourism and Culture, said arts and culture can challenge established thoughts, patterns and provide an alternative understanding of the world; as they provide experiences that can be crucial to developing the individual's personality and quality of life. According to her, arts and culture and heritage are the creative identity and contribute to making people conscious of who they are and where they came from.  "This has value for the individuals; it has also the power to shape social development, peace, economic growth, innovation and value creation," she stated.

She also noted that the business sector increasingly demands values that exist in the culture context such as creativity, innovation, ability to be curious and able to adapt. She added that  children and young people should have access to arts and culture that is equal to what the adults do. "Being exposed to arts and culture through childhood will contribute to the children and young peoples experience and knowledge that can form the basis for children's own creative activities and ability to access various artistic and cultural expressions that  can be equipped to meet and master the challenges of the society," she said.

Minister Jobe-Njie further stated that ECCO Gambia and ECCO International have shown that they are strong partners in cultural education in The Gambia and her Ministry is proud to be combining their efforts, resources and their beliefs into a wonderful programme for the children of this nation.  "We strongly believe that this will change the future of the Gambian children and youth," she concluded.

For his part, Mam Tamsir Njie, a reknown artist who also doubles as the  cultural affairs head of schools broadcasting at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, described the pre-launching as an important one.  He stated that culture is a tool that can help one to know his or her direction; as a person without culture is a tree without roots. "I believe if cultural activities are introduced into the educational system, it will help future leaders to know who they are and to know where they are heading to," he noted.

For his part, Babou Sarr, ECCO country director, said the organisation was formed in The Gambia in 1990 and since then has been taking care of Africans in general and culture in particular. He expressed statisfaction on the cultured manner of Gambians and revealed that their mission is to inculcate such cultural virtues in the youths.