The Community Skills Improvement Project (CSIP) recently held a training on tie and dye, batik and enterprise development for the women of Fass Njaga Choi in Lower Baddibu, North Bank Region (NBR).

Speaking at the occasion, Haddy Camara, the women programme supervisor of Regional Community Development Office in Kerewan underscored the importance of skills development among women which she said, contributes to poverty reduction. She said her office is very much committed to the empowerment of women and youths to contribute to the attainment of the national development agenda.  

She commended the CSIP for their valuable support in empowering women with the ability to write in their own languages and providing micro finance facility for them. He further assured them for her office’s fullest support. For her part, Aji Marie Faye, lady president of Fass Njaga  Choi women group applauded the efforts of CSIP at the Department of Community Development for providing adult literacy programmes for the women and youths.

Fatou Sonko, lady councillor and the focal person of the National Federation of Gambian Women and Isatou Sowe both stated that the training on tie and dye and soap making empower women to acquire skills and to meet up to their needs. They thanked CSIP for providing training on batik and soap making as it will have a great impact on their lives. They further called on the people to come and patronise in buying their products.

For his part, Amadou Bob of Fass Njaga Choi expressed the need for men to give moral and financial support to women in the acquisition and promotion of skills in their households, saying it will help to bring about significant changes on the lives of women and contribute to sustainable development. He then appealed to the project to support women with start-up capital to start a business and continue with the initiative.   

The Councillor for Essau Ward, Kawsu Marong, applauded CSIP and GAMJOB for complementing government efforts in the empowerment of women through the acquisition of life skills to bring about meaningful development. Other speakers included Ousman Chorr, representative of VDC and Alagie Gaye of CDA.