The Speaker of the National Youth Parliament, the Honorable Lamin F.Bojang, has been awarded the Peace and Love Award by Energy Boys and Girls of the World Federation for Peace and Love based in Taiwan.

He received the said award last Thursday 14th August at the end of the 5th Session of the United Nations Annual Youth Assembly, at the United Nations in New York. Speaker Bojang who was awarded the Peace and Love Medal alongside over a dozen young people from around the world who were commended for their contribution to the development of young people in their respective countries.

 Presenting the medal to the Awardees, Ying – Chen, a member of the Energy Boys and Girls, remarked that her parent organisation is operating worldwide and working to promote world peace and love.

 She noted that her organisation is indeed very grateful to award a medal to outstanding youth personalities whose contribution to world peace through their respective organisations complements world peace and love.

 In receiving the award, Hon. Bojang thanked the Energy Boys and Girls for the encouragement. He called on them to collaborate with young people of The Gambia, as the relationship between the Taiwan and The Gambia is excellent. This he said can be supported through creation of partnership between like-minded organisations in two countries.

Young people, he added, have a major stake in the development of their societies and the world as a whole. He therefore stated that the inculcation of responsible behavior and attitude goes a long way in the promotion and protection of world peace.

The NGO-CSO Network on tobacco control in The Gambia is currently holding a three-day strategic planning workshop for its members at the President’s International Awards Hall in Bakau.

Speaking at the occasion, the chairman of the Network, Sambujang Conteh, said the idea of creating such an institution emerged following the recognition of the fact that no single entity can win the war against tobacco. He noted that since the tobacco industry is powerful and well established, coupled with the popularity of tobacco products, a united force is needed to confront it.

He stated that the NGO- CSO network on tobacco control in The Gambia has a vision of transforming The Gambia into a tobacco free society saying, “this trouble of tobacco is everywhere in our society. Even those who abuse or use it agree that it’s harmful to their health but they cannot drop the habit of tobacco consumption.”

Mr. Conteh disclosed that during the three days participants will validate the results of their four months of consultations in developing a comprehensive strategic document which, according to him, will effectively guide and support their process of achieving the WHO Framework convention on tobacco control.

For his part, Momodou Gassama, health information and promotion officer (WHO office), said tobacco is currently the second major cause of death in the world adding that it kills one in ten people globally. This accounts for five million deaths every year.

He stated that tobacco accounts for more deaths than malaria, maternal conditions and injuries combined.

Other speakers at the occasion were Hon Adama Cham, Mr. Adeola Akinremi, Alh. Cham and DPS at the Department of State for Health Alh Saihou Janneh.

The scheme is aimed at rewarding excellence, professionalism, patriotism and dedication to the teaching profession among teachers at the lower, upper and senior secondary levels of education.

This year, which is the 4th edition, will take place on October 5th.

To that effect, GTU last Friday inaugurated the national committees for the award at its headquarters in Kanifing.

The scheme is also aimed at raising the profile of the teachers as well as curbing the seeming unending increase in the attrition rate of teachers.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Antoinettee Corr-Jack, General Secretary GTU, described teachers as not merely people who convey cold facts from books into the heads of children. A teacher she said is a motivator an encourager who opens the world to children and gives them tools to navigate their way in it. She informed the committees that their task, choosing the most dedicated and capable candidates amongst the lot for the award, is a challenging one.

Essa Sowe, Chairperson of the National Task Force, gave an overview for the conduct of the award.

He said that the criteria for the appraisal of contestants include professional conduct and remarkable achievements, whole-school performance, educational and professional background and knowledge of education policies among other things.

Mr. Lamin K. Marong, 2ndvice president of the union, in his commissioning statement encouraged the committees to work in accordance with the terms of reference for the selection. He told them to start the work upon return to their respective regions.

If every thing goes well, this year’s award will be an award with a difference a GTU official was quoted as saying.

Organised by the United States Embassy, the competition for Senior Secondary School students in The Gambia is in observance of the U.S National African-American History month.

The objective of the competition was to encourage secondary school students and their respective schools to read and write about African-American history and particularly focus on how that history relates to the history of The Gambia.

Out of a total number of 85 essays received by a team of professionals from the Banjul American Embassy School (BAES), 10 finalists with the best essays, of whom six came from the Western Region, were selected and given awards.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Barry Wells, United States Ambassador to The Gambia, said the United States Embassy celebrates Black History Month each February.

That period of the year, according to Ambassador Wells, provides an opportunity to acknowledge the historical, political, cultural and economic contributions of African origin throughout the world.

“The story of Black History Month begins with Historian Carter G. Woodson’s passion about black history evolved in the most unlikely of places. While working at a coal mine, the daily conservation of the black civil war veterans often focused on interesting historical facts not recorded in history books,” he noted.

Ambassador Wells used the occasion to commend students and the Director of Region II, Mrs. Matty Bouye, for their successful efforts this year.

For her part, Mrs Isatou Nyang, Director of Curriculum Department at the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, reiterated her department’s gratitude to associate itself with the American Embassy for a cordial and fruitful partnership in the area of education. “You will all agree with me that education is the key to empowerment, and since that is the case, the American Embassy has been, and is still, very crucial in this very important commodity in the area of education,” Mrs. Nyang stated.

She commended the American Embassy for the tremendous support to the education sector while expressing her department’s willingness to partner with the Embassy to further this venture to higher heights.

Mrs Nyang however advised the awardees not to be reluctant, but rather to make best use of every opportunity that comes their way.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Ms Dianne Zemichael from the Banjul American Embassy School who gave an overview of the competition process.

Because of his natural gift of generosity and kindness to his subjects at all times, President Jammeh has been awarded a Man of Humanity Award.

The Gambian Red Cross Society (GRCS) awarded this to His Excellency, the President, Dr. Alhagie Yahya AJJ Jammeh for his tireless and generous contribution towards the GRCS. They also believe he deserves this award for his efforts in curing HIV/AIDS and many other communicable diseases in The Gambia.

Similarly, Mr. Saihou T Sabally, Ex-President of the GRCS was also given a Man of Humanity Award.

Alhagie Jarju, Director of Information and Communication for GRCS thanked the President and Mr. Sabally for their wonderful generosity. He noted that the GRCS will never forget them for their generosity.

He finished by calling on individuals, NGOs and the Government to help assist the Red Cross in achieving its aims and goals.