Gainako will be unveiling a weekly Youth program on Gainako Radio to accord Gambian Youths the opportunity to discuss issues affecting them in and outside of the Gambia. We are cognizant with the fact that the future of the Gambia will be in the hands of the current youths whose civic education and participation in Gambia’s political discourse would be critical to the future of the nation.
The weekly discussions will be hosted by Sam Phatey a Gambian Youth Activist who was one time the speaker of the Gambian youth Parliament in the Gambia. Sam Phatey is a Human & Child Rights Advocate & Activist, Conflict Analyst and Political Strategist. Mr. Phatey is currently the Georgia Representative at the UNHCR Refugee Congress working closely with the United States Government, US Congress and other NGO’s. He works at HFI as Executive Director and AT&T as a Training Manager.
Mr. Phatey also contributed to the UN Secretary General’s Report on Violence against Children, took part in finalizing the draft for the Gambia’s Children’s Commission, Gambia’s Education Policy 2004 – 2008, Children’s Act 2005 and the Tourism Offense Act. He was the first Speaker of the Children’s National Assembly of the Gambia and the Western Region Children’s Parliament. He worked closely with the National Assembly, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UNICEF, UNAIDS and Ministry of Education in the Gambia. In 2008, he presented a comprehensive report to the national Assembly on “the Progress Made by the Gambia in the Implementation of the UNCRC and the ACRWC” to Standing Committee on Women, Children and Refugees.
Mr. Phatey has professional degrees in Conflict Analysis, Interfaith Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Conflict Management, Government Economic Policy, Sustainable Development, European Union Public Procurement and in Business, Entrepreneurship and Legal Studies.
The 24 year old Phatey was our guest at Gainako Radio Sunday afternoon November 24th, where he discussed the welfare of Gambian children and some of the policy advocates he has helped promote in the Gambia. Mr. Phatey also touched on some analysis he has been sharing with Gambian online papers. He briefly touch on the negative impact of President Jammeh’s reckless decision to pull Gambia out of the Commonwealth and unceremoniously breaking diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. Phatey said Jammeh made a grave mistake and that he could have played his diplomatic carts well where he could be able to establish relationship with both Taiwan and Mainland China. He lamented that diplomatic relationships are about strategic national interest and therefore the President should play his diplomatic relationships well to protect the national interest rather than making emotional decisions on national matter.
As stated Sam will be making more announcements on his efforts to join the Gainako crew and host Youth discussion programs on this network. Part of the goals are to engage Gambian youths directly both on the Gambia and the Diaspora to encourage their participation in our national discourse. Stay tuned for more information from young Sam Phatey. Tune in to Gainako Radio to listen to the lively discussion with young Sam. Gainako appreciate Sam’s willingness to host a program on the radio and we encourage other Gambian Youths especially young women to participate in Gambia’s national discourse.