"Yes, Youth Can"

 The US Embassy Banjul, in partnership with Think Young Women, This Generation Group, Lend a Hand Society and IVLP Alumni Association convened a three-day seminar discussion and workshop with key stakeholders on youth development and empowerment in the Gambia. The “Dialogue with Young Gambian Leaders under the theme “Yes, Youth Can” was organized as a follow on to President Obama’s meeting with young African leaders in Washington, DC last year.

The program provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the efforts of young Gambian Leaders, engage them in discussions about current challenges within Gambia and provide a space for brainstorming and networking. It included seminar discussions and workshops where Gambian youth explored the challenges they face as youth with emphasis on the challenges faces by girls and young women in the Gambia. The discussions during the three day event also highlighted practical solutions to the challenges identified and all participants present confirmed their commitment to address these issues.

On June 9th-10th and 16th 2011 at the American Corner, Kairaba Avenue, the event solicited input from stakeholders in devising sustainable strategies for engaging emerging Gambian youth leaders in the advancement of young people and particularly young women empowerment in the Gambia and the continent at large.

Submitted by: Sait  Matty Jaw, TYW

Allow us to introduce ourselves

TYW-an organisation of young women finding their voices.

Aware that critical issues faced by young women includes inadequate access to the experience of others, limited access to the decision making spaces and lack of capacity building trainings.  Under the onslaught of numerous challenges- gender based violence, HIV/AIDS, lack of full enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights, it is the empowerment and participation of young women that will address these issues.           

TYW aims to address these issues affecting young women by building their skills, strengthening their voices to create more impact and support to achieve women’s rights. There is the need to create   the space to empower and uplift young women and to educate others and provide an enlightened leadership to meet the complex challenges of young women.

As we assert ourselves as young female leaders, we draw inspiration from women leaders who had fight for women’s rights and made it possible for us to assert our rights.  We salute our She-roes.

 We reaffirm our commitment to respect and defend the rights of all young women. We claim the right to speak for ourselves as young female leaders.