Concern Universal, through its Excel project and in collaboration with St Joseph’s Farm Centre, recently ended a two-day stakeholder training for staff of the Sulayman Jukung Jammeh General Hospital in Bwiam, St Joseph’s Family Farm Centre as well as teachers and community representatives on HIV and gender.

The program was held at the St Joseph’s Family Farm Centre (SJFFC) grounds in Bwiam, Foni Kansala. The training was aimed at enhancing the awareness level of the participants on HIV and the subsequent threats it poses to people around the world. They were also exposed to gender issues.

In his opening remarks, the director of Saint Joseph’s Family Farm Centre, Marcel Badjie, said the training was a very significance move in the right direction, noting that it would help the participants to understand HIV infection and gender dynamics.

According to him, the training will further enhance and build the capacities of the participants in controlling the spread of HIV at national level through disseminating the information gained from the training. He added that it would also enhance the process of updating his centre’s gender policy.

For his part, the health coordinator of Concern Universal, Kay Sey, reiterated that aim of the training was to enable participants to understand the facts concerning HIV and its modes of transmission.

He said that it would equip the participants to explore issues that are related to gender in the society as well as at working places.

Kombo East District Youth Committee, in collaboration with the Kombo East District Youth and Children Development Association (KEYCDA) last Sunday concluded a two-day training for members of the district’s village-level youth committees.

The training was on leadership management and child protection. It was conducted at the skills centre in Kuloro village.

Lamin Darboe, youth and child coordinator of Kaira Nyining, a CCF project in the district, who also doubles as the coordinator of KEYCDA, in his welcoming remarks on Saturday urged the youths to close ranks in the best interest of development.

He challenged the participants to adequately utilise the knowledge gained from the training by making changes in their villages.

Darboe then thank Kaira Nyining, their main funding partner, for their unflinching support.

Mrs Fanta Badjie, program manager of Kaira Nyining, Kuloro program, called for collaborative efforts form the youths for their own development. She urged the youths to take ownership of the district.

Alpha Khan, Kaira Nyining program development officer highlighted the importance of young people in the community. He then urged the youths to disseminate the information gained from the training to others.

 A two day workshop on civil /security service relations which brings the security men and media practitioners together in order to build a smooth relationship was organized by the Media Agenda and sponsored by the US Embassy in partnership with the UK embassy in Banjul.The workshop took place at Baobab resort hotel May 14 2008.

In his welcome speech, the director of Media Agenda Madi .M.K. Ceesay said, this is not a training workshop but one that brings together civil society and the uniform men and women together. He went on to say the aim of the workshop is to create a relationship between the journalists and our service men that will enhance a very good working relationship, we have seen in the past when this two groups sometimes find it difficult to simply relate to one and another in a friendly atmosphere and he believes that it is due to misunderstanding, Ceesay said, with such opportunities. , such misunderstandings can be a thing of the past.

He said it is also clear that the security will not and cannot compromise state security. Whiles the journalists is all out to inform by publishing things that are happening or about to happen , the security will always hold on to some information that they felt its not fit for publications. This is where we clash.

He further said that Media Agenda will always endeavor to create avenues that will enhance reporting in the context of human rights.

Ambassador Barry L. Wells of the USA to the Gambia said he was delighted to be associated to the sponsoring of a workshop on civil / military relationship. Wells urge the media to work hand in hand with the security men and women. Also security personnel must not see each other as enemies. He said for them they will continue to sponsor such activities. He calls on the media to research their stories well and to be factual in news presentations.

Other speakers included the Permanent Secretary Department of state for Information, Communication and Information Technology. Abdoukirim Sonko. He told the participants that the workshop will create a greater understanding between the media and the security personel. Sonko also said the military must not see the media as anti development, but rather partners in development. He went on to thank Media Agenda for spear-heading this noble course – training of people is the main foundation, he asked to put what is learnt to best practice.

He said in many part of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, relationship of the military and the media has not been very cordial, tensions and fractions seem to be the humor of the day which normally is the manner and the type of information they provide for people.

The president of the Gambia Press Union Ndey Tapha Sosseh said the military and civil Society relations are a concern over the years. The Gambia Press Union has continually sought to improve on the relations and ease tensions between the media and security personel.

The GPU president thanks the organizers and urges the participants to participate actively during the deliberation over the next two days, to critically analyze the situation between civil society and military.  

Mr. Swaebou Conateh, of the Gambia News and Report Magazine a resource person presented a paper on how one becomes a good police or crime reporter.

Other speakers include Captain Sanneh PRO of the Gambia Army Forces who also express similar sentiments Mrs. Halimatou Jallow of Immigration Department.

Participants were drawn from the National Army, Immigrations, Fire and Ambulances Services, National Intelligence Agency, The police, and the media.