The Youth Ambassadors of Peace (YAP) recently organised a one-day validation workshop centred on issues relating to communities' vulnerabilty.

Sponsored by Concern universal, the workshop was held at Sibanor Lower Basic School in Foni Bintang and it brought together participants from Janack, Kaimo, Kusamai and Kabocorr villages.

Giving a historical overview of YAP, Dawda Nasso, Chapter Chairperson, Western Region, said their partnership with Concern Universal was meant to enable the communities to explore new ways of realizing their potentials.

His remark touched on environmental issues, noting that hazards are composed of multiple threats and that there is the need for enough resources to combat the problem.

For his part Manfred Bojang, desk officer for emergency preparedness prevention and response at St. Joseph's Family Farm Centre (EPPR), who also deputised for Ebou Fye-Njie, EPPR Manager at Concern Universal, underscored the general objective of the project, notiing that it is meant to generate knowledge sharing to support disaster-risk reduction strategy processes in the region. As such, the results, according to him, can impact a comprehensive approach capable of tackling the problems faced by vulnerable communities in The Gambia.

Mr Bojang further pointed out that the necessity to mitigate the effects of conflicts and disaster through participative analysis of local vulnerabilities and capacities, thus resulted in small projects implementation. He further went on to say that it is also meant to enhance and protect the livelihood for marginalized refugee host communities in Janack, Kabokorr, Kaimu and Kusamai. Wassa B. jammeh, officer in charge, Sibanor Police Station, also attended the ceremony.