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By: Ismaila M.S. Naban
The Kombo-based Kani Kunda Tendala Youth and Social Development Association popularly called KTYSDA, in collaboration with its offshoot bodies based in Farafenni, Diaspora and the KK Tendala Village Development Committee (VDC) is set for another grand annual Convention and massive tree-planting exercise.
The scheduled annual village convergence, to be the fifth (5th) year since the idea was conceived by the Association, is expected to be held on 31st August, 2019, at the small coastal village of Kani Kunda Tendala-fondly and affectionately called Wharf Town-in Sabach Sanjal District, North Bank Region.
It could be observed that KTYSDA, comprising males and females of varied ages, continues to attract stupendous recognitions from its development partners in the country; with a strong commitment to conserving the village’s environments, and also engender meaningful development in the village and beyond, through its lofty initiatives.
The KTYSDA tree-planting exercise, which started some years ago, was regarded as the ‘premier large-scale tree-planting initiative’ in that area, and the Association has been hailed by not only the Tendala villagers, but some of the neighbouring villages, for coming up with such laudable initiatives.
It could recalled that the Association had also launched a fishing boat project supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the National Youth Council (NYC) geared towards creating jobs and enhancing the income generating capacities of the youth folk of the said village, so as to discourage them from venturing into the irregular migration locally dubbed “back way”, and by extension, foster the development of the village.
Last year’s event, punctuated by cultural and sporting activities, was graced by the Regional Governor of North Bank Region, officials of National Environment Agency (NEA), Department of Community Development, Department of Forestry, NYC, and officials and members of the KTYSDA, and the village elders, among others.
Meantime, the Association’s Secretary General Mr. Modou Cham, writing on his Facebook page on 29 July, 2019, urged all the chapters (Kombo, Farafenni, Kani Kunda and the Diaspora) to continue their preparation for the event. Cham said KTYSDA looks forward to a successful 2019 convention, come 31st August.
Meanwhile, SG Cham has informed the Trumpet that they are also “launching the KTYSDA Livelihood Development Project supported by the NEMA project (Groundnut pressing machine, Groundnut Paste Machine and Groundnut decorticator machine”.
As Cham indicated, the materials would be presented to members during the upcoming Convention.