Thanks to funding from the Naturefriends Offenbach, Frankfurt/Main and Wiesbaden (Germany), a new meeting of students took place in the Landscape of the Year 2018-2020 Senegal/Gambia. The first meeting already took place in 2019. In 2021, the young people met again at the Naturefriends' House in Petit Mbao, and 2023 again in the region of the Landscape of the Year: from 24 to 26 February in Koungheul (Senegal) and from 10 to 12 March in Janjanbureh (Gambia).

A total of about 30 students and two chaperones each attended the meeting. General coordination was provided by Mamadou Mbodji (ASAN Deputy Secretary General and NFI Vice President).

Once again, lectures and discussions on environmental topics were on the agenda, this time with a special focus on the pollution of soil, water and air and on climate change. The thematic discussions were moderated by the young people themselves. The thematic programme was complemented by visits to historically and culturally interesting places as well as by sports and cultural activities (football, music, dance).

As in previous meetings, the aim this time too - in line with the objectives of the "Landscape of the Year" project - was to establish and sustain cooperation across borders. It was emphasized that Senegal and The Gambia have the same social and cultural background and are currently struggling with the same problems. Both countries also have a very young population, and it is obvious to rely on young people and their cooperation to overcome the problems.
"We are young, we are the future", said a young person at the end of the meeting. The students also see themselves as multipliers: "We must and will share with our peers who did not participate in the meeting, but also beyond, what we have learned (from each other) at this meeting".

It is also very gratifying for the NFI that activities are still being carried out in the region that invoke the "Landscape of the Year". NFI would like to join the participants of the meeting and sincerely thank the Naturefriends organisations that funded the meeting for their great commitment.

Please find details of the programme and photos on Mamadou Mbodji's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mamadou.mbodji.5