There will be no democracy if a portion of the population is being denied their constitutional right to lead not only with words but with action. The removal of age limit show a clear testimony of constitutional coup and hijack that the youth are not important in national development.
Youth leadership opportunities are often overlooked by adults, either knowingly or unknowingly, but the results are the same; a lost opportunity for young people to take the lead. Even when adults consider themselves champions for youth in leadership roles, many times adults are asked to assume the leadership positions instead of letting youth take the lead to build their future.
The Gambia is the only country where Young people are often excluded or overlooked as political candidates, but see the youth as the people who supposed to be clapping and singing during the campaign. Not knowing that the youth often play central and catalyzing roles in movements for democracy around the globe in making the world a better place to live in.
Gambia politics is typically regarded as a space for politically experienced men above 60, and while women are also disadvantaged in accumulating experience to run for office, young people are systematically marginalized because of their young age, limited opportunities, and projected lack of experience by the pensioners who want to lead by all means.
Widespread global mobilization and action demonstrate that young people care deeply about social causes, while recent events in the Arab States and elsewhere have highlighted how youth can play a vital role in democratic change.
We the Gambia youth face many issues in our own country, but these issues go unheard. Since the youth would better understand other young people, the best way to improve this newer generation would be through politics, which is a tool used to take action for development.
The involvement of youth in politics leads to civic engagement which is broader than political engagement because it can include service to the community through involvement in health, education and charity work. Political engagement is a more targeted aspect of civic engagement and can be expressed through voting, participating in political demonstrations and signing petitions for specific issues.
The Barrow lead administration should consider steps to effectively integrate youth in political processes by taking advantage of new technologies. It is clear that we need to find another way forward. Politicians, decision-making institutions and influencers must engage in more open and transparent dialogue with young people that both elevates their voices and builds the trustworthiness of the institutions they engage with.
The Gambia Youth are well energetic in performing their tasks and would be key to the growth and development of the nation. They are also well aware of the technological advancement such as various app which makes work easier.
Youth should be given the opportunity to prove themselves by making politics accessible to them. The right balance of young talent and experienced politicians can lead to the cleaning of politics and can restore the public faith in the political system.
Our mission is supporting a new generation of progressive young leaders and empowering them to fight for progressive change, elevating the political consciousness. And to transform Gambia’s politics and economic systems in responsive to the needs of The Gambians.
The vision dedicated to liberate Gambians from the bondage of leading by the pensioners with the aim of re building a better Gambia that would one day be led by a youth not only with words but with action.
To be continued…
By: Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Spokesperson
History shows very clearly that it is the youth and only the youth bring about meaningful and everlasting social change. Another inspiring contribution from Mr Jarjou. You older has beens take a break.
Thanks Comrade
AS Jarjou….
I admire your maturity, intelligence and activism, and to a large extent, agree with your viewpoints, but I think you got somethings wrong here. Your overall argument about the important role of the youths in national development is absolutely true, and the need to devise programmes in every sphere of our national endeavours for training the youths to GRADUALLY assume their rightful leadership positions in society, cannot be over emphasized. But that process must be gradual, because if there is anything we can learn from thrusting youths into leadership positions without the right training and skills, that should be our experience under Jammeh, as he and his AFPRC Junta were all idealistic youths when they took over, and the result is why we are here today.
And contrary to your view that youths are being ignored and reduced to clapping and singing during campaigns, I think the composition of the National Assembly (almost entirely youthful) is a clear indication that the youths are being allowed to take leadership roles, under supervision (in a way), as decision making in the NA is collective and by consensus, rather than individual.
You have identified a productive way of youth engagement through charities, civic exercises etc. but I disagree with you that the youths need government to undertake such duties (if that’s what you are saying) because citizens don’t need to wait for government intervention to undertake civic tasks.
The youths can organise themselves into various civic groups, like #Occupy Westfield, and become active in the nation’s development efforts. Such groups can work with NGOs (both local & international) to maximise their impact in their areas of interests and concerns. We should not wait for government because very few governments will empower citizens to check their power and hold them to account. If anything, African Governments would more likely reduce youths to clapping and singing, rather than empowering them to be sovereign citizens, to facilitate self perpetuation. These are the areas I want to draw your attention to.
Like I said, you are one young man I admire so much and I encourage you to continue your engagement with the forum. With youths like you, I am convinced that our country has a bright future, with the right leadership training and skills.
Thanks Comrade Bax. Your point is well noted with thanks. You mentioned of #Occupy Westfield please be informed that such a movement are seen by the State as a threat and a group of criminal with the intention of disestablishing the country as seen recently..
while the above movement is democratic and constitutional as per the “right of freedom of speech and expression” and “right of academic freedom”, which are expressly guaranteed by section 25 (1) (A) and section 25(1) (B) respectively, of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution.
That is the reason we thought that there is a need for a YOUTH REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT..
Thanks Comrade Bax. Your point is well noted with thanks. You mentioned of #Occupy Westfield please be informed that such a movement are seen by the State as a threat and a group of criminal with the intention of disestablishing the country as seen recently..
while the above movement is democratic and constitutional as per the “right of freedom of speech and expression” and “right of academic freedom”, which are expressly guaranteed by section 25 (1) (A) and section 25(1) (B) respectively, of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution.
That is the reason we thought that there is a need for a YOUTH REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT..