Youths Mentorship Academy

Let's take action together for our communities.

Youths Mentorship Academy is a social venture which seeks to reduce the rate of middle school dropouts in the Kunkujang keitaya community and The Gambia at large. We work towards providing; academic support through free academic tutoring; financial support through providing learning materials such as uniforms, pamphlets, study fees etc.; Extracurricular activities in form of Public Speaking and Leadership trainings, career development trainings, field trips, debates and Speech Competitions. Skills training: Basic Computer skills (excel and word), graphic designing, beading, tie and dye, weaving etc.

BACKGROUND:

Research shows that many junior secondary school students are between the ages of 12 and 17 years, and this period serves as the critical and crucial stage of the lives. This developmental stage is where teenagers mostly fall victims of peer influence, pregnancy and other unethical behaviours such as smoking w**d, stealing and the list goes on. These factors have led to an increasing number of middle school dropout in Kunkujang keitaya community and the country at large —particularly in the rural areas.

Students at this stage mostly attend school without purpose and motivation. Some of them make their own decisions when it comes to their education - due to the inadequate education of their parents. They lack Guidance and a mentor to show them the way forward.

Additionally, According to report, the dependency ratio stood at 92.3 as in 2015 (Dependency ratios – total dependency ratio country ranks) which indicates a high number of youth unemployment and underemployment in The Gambia.

MISSION STATEMENT

To reduce the rate of junior secondary school drop-outs in our community by providing a one year Mentorship scheme where participants will be supported in terms of academics and extracurricular activities through leadership trainings as a way of developing the mindset and attitude towards education and giving motivations to pursue higher education.