Banjul, 18th March 2025: Sainey Jeng, a 29-year-old young man from Barra, began his professional skills development as a welding apprentice in his father’s workshop, when he was in grade 7. From then and there his interest in welding turned into a dream of becoming a qualified professional in the field.
In a chat with Gambia Daily at his workshop in Barra, the young welding prodigy informed that he started the business 4 years ago but the apprenticeship started 20 years ago.
He noted that he is engaging in a life-changing internship for 47 youths, who their families thought they would never make it in life. These were youths who were engaged in unscrupulous behaviours such as theft, banditry, among others.
Jeng attested that after molding these young people they came to like and appreciate the skill of welding. He disclosed that some of his trainees go to school in the morning and come to the workshop in the afternoon, while those going to school in the afternoon come to the workshop in the morning.
Jeng further disclosed that the trainees come from the villages surrounding Barra, such as Essau, Kanuma, Sammeh among others.
The skills developer said most of his trainees appreciate and are determined to undergo the rigours the job demands because of the way he treats them. He said he feeds them and that five of them live with him. “I provided them with two sets of uniforms, and occasionally give them money, and whenever I am paid for my service I give them their share”.
Highlighting some of his challenges, Jeng mentioned his frequent relocation, noting that he wants a permanent place for his workshop. He appeals for government or donors to support him achieve his dream of creating a skillful society of youth.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in particular, plays a critical role in economic growth through human resource development. TVET endows a country with skills required to improve the productivity of industries, raise income levels for citizens and improve access to employment opportunities for the youth.
The consequences of this lack of attention towards vocational education are the growing problem of youth unemployment and underemployment, which is a recipe for high crime rates, poverty and political instability.
Sainey Jeng’s initiative is in line with the government’s TVET programme. Therefore, he needs support to be able to enroll more apprentices and help curb crime rate in The Gambia.
By Mumine Jallow
Sainey Jeng Shares Inspiring Story of Engaging Barra Youths in a Vital Skills Venture
