By Landing Ceesay
Juffureh, Albreda Youth Society (JAYS) in collaboration with the National Environmental Agency (NEA) and the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA+) have organized a coastal cleansing exercise in the two communities.
During the exercise, participants removed several plastic and other waste materials from the shore of the Riverside and the nearby fishery center.
The exercise was part of the annual coastal cleanup initiative by the NEA and GCCA+ in their efforts to support coastal communities to adapt to tackling the impacts of climate change on their natural environment, with consideration for inter-linkages between the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
The NEA and GCCA+ delegates were received and welcomed by the heads of the two communities in the name of the society (JAYS).
The JAYS executive have expressed their gratitude to the “wonderful initiative” and called close collaborations with NEA and the GCCA+, to tackle environmental impacts in the community and their surroundings; especially the issue of coastal erosion.
Coastal erosion is in the increase within the two communities and is particularly affecting the swampy fields used by women for rice cultivation, during rainy seasons.
The NEA has identified some of those issues and reassured members of the two communities of its assistance.
The team also handed 15 wheelbarrows, 15 spades, and other cleansing tools to JAYS and encouraged them to embark on cleansing exercises.
Bakary Fofana, an executive member of JAYS told this medium that they are very happy with this initiative by NEA and GCCA + and assured that the activity will continue.
“The work went well and everyone is happy because everywhere is clean, especially the riverside after the exercise. JAYS has been organizing cleansing exercises, but this is the first time NEA and GCCA+ to join hands with JAYS to do this kind of work,” he said.
Mr. Fofana informed this reporter that they are also hoping to embark on tree planting at the riverside before the end of August 2022, God willing.
The cleansing exercise was held on Saturday in the Juffureh and Albreda in the Upper Nuimi District.