YOG celebrates Gam Culture Night

In its quest to raise awareness about Gambian culture, based on their vision as a community base organization, the Youth Organization of Gambia (YOG), based in the United States of America, last Friday 19 February, 2010, celebrated a Gambian Cultural Night.
According to a statement sent to Jollof News by Binneh S Minteh, the colourful occasion which took place at the West Bronx Recreation Center, Bronx, New York City, brought together a cross section of Gambians in the US, including elderly opinion leaders within the Gambian community. The statement said that the meeting manifested a bright and great future that holds for the Gambia. It went on to acknowledge that ‘‘change is indeed progressively taking shape across the socio-political contours of the country.
YOG was formed by a group of young people who call themselves First Generation Young Gambian-American Youths with expressed determination to bring progressive change across Gambian Communities both in New York City and grass roots communities back home in West Africa.
The group’s vision, among others, entails extending aid to the Gambia by seeking to improve on education, health and living conditions of the people.
‘‘In addition, we seek to build a strong foundation in New York City for Gambian-Americans, and to educate and empower the Gambian-American Community by providing resources,’’ the statement said.
The statement also listed a number of goals the group earmarks for achievement, among them, empowering the Gambian-American community through education, to serve as role models to younger generation Gambian American Youth and Children.
At Friday’s occasion, following the welcoming remarks and introduction of the organization, recitation of the Gambian Anthem, a brilliant chronicling of Gambian history, speeches by prominent Gambian community leaders and recitation of poems were the hallmark of the historic occasion, the statement said.
The occasion, it added, epitomized the progressive transformations shaping people and communities around the world, with slogans such as ‘Together we can,’ and ‘Implementing change through knowledge and empowerment,’ all coming from a youth organization comprising between 15-19 year old young female first Generation Gambian Americans.
‘‘Indeed it represents the great potentials and pace of change taking shape across Gambian communities,’’ the statement read.
In view of the noble and philanthropic cause envisioned by such a group of young females with a third world background, it is imperative that Gambians and non-Gambians alike, foundations, community organizations, private businesses and individuals provide all the support required to propel YOG to higher heights, the statement appealed.
It members can be reached on tel. 646-359-4192 or 646-578-1499. Or by email at: youth.organization.of.the.gambia@gmail.com, for further information about the organization.