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NCCE launches dialogue sessions to promote peaceful politics ahead of 2026 election. Mar 12, 2026, 12:32 PM | Article By: Ismaila Sonko The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), has launched a nationwide series of structured dialogue sessions aimed at promoting peaceful political participation and strengthening social cohesion ahead of The Gambia's 2026 presidential election. The initiative, implemented through CRS's HOPE Project (Harmony, Outreach, Peace and Engagement), was held under the theme "Bridging the Divide: Fostering Social Cohesion and Peace." It seeks to reduce political polarisation, encourage constructive engagement among political actors and communities, and reinforce democratic values across the country. The dialogue sessions are expected to bring together about 550 influential voices, including political leaders, community elders, youth representatives, women, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities and religious leaders. Discover more Deyda Hydara memorial merchandise Participants are drawn from five regions: Upper River Region (URR), Central River Region (CRR), North Bank Region (NBR), Lower River Region (LRR), and West Coast Region (WCR). Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ansumana Ceesay, Programme Manager at NCCE, commended stakeholders for their participation and acknowledged Catholic Relief Services for supporting the initiative. He noted that the engagement comes at a crucial time as the country gradually prepares for the 2026 presidential election, stressing the need for responsible political discourse. Ceesay warned against the growing use of abusive language in political debates and on social media platforms, urging political actors and citizens to promote respectful dialogue and tolerance. He further emphasised that constructive engagement among stakeholders is essential to safeguarding national peace and ensuring that democratic processes are conducted in line with the principles of the Constitution and the rights it guarantees to all citizens. Also speaking at the event, Ejatou Jallow, Ward Councillor for Basse Ward, underscored the importance of maintaining peace during the electoral period. She called on political actors and community members to reject violence and prioritise dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect in political engagement. The dialogue sessions form part of broader efforts by NCCE and its partners to promote civic awareness, strengthen democratic culture and ensure peaceful political participation across The Gambia. Discover more Cultural festival experiences Gambia travel guide

Community and Communion: under the parental Care of the Church - the man, the family and the child. Diaconia, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), announces the launch of the project "Community and Communion", which will take place during January - September 2026. This project proposes a pastoral-social work in communities, aiming to strengthen the family, prevent the separation of the child from his or her family, and combat domestic violence. The purpose of the project. The project aims to strengthen positive attitudes towards family care, reduce negative social norms related to violence, disability and institutionalization, as well as raise awareness of the importance of a safe and loving family environment in raising and protecting children. The project is aligned with national priorities in the field of child protection and is based on the experience gained within the global initiative Changing the Way Diaconia Care, leveraging existing partnerships between authorities, civil society organizations and the Orthodox Church. Project objectives. The specific objectives of the project include: * strengthening the family and preventing child separation through community involvement; The project promotes the involvement of local communities in supporting families and preventing child separation, with a particular focus on the role of priests as key actors at the community level. The intervention includes the selection of a group of 16 priests, following consultations with the hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church (Metropolitan of Bessarabia), who will benefit from a structured training and accompaniment program. It aims to consolidate positive attitudes towards family care, strengthen social support networks and facilitate families' access to concrete forms of support. At the same time, this project will address the negative social norms associated with child separation from the family, institutionalization, violence and disability. * preventing domestic violence through the involvement of priests; In addition to family strengthening efforts, the project integrates a component dedicated to preventing domestic violence in communities across the country. This component capitalizes on the social and moral influence of priests within the Metropolitanate of Bessarabia, contributing to changing attitudes and social norms that tolerate or normalize domestic violence. Through training sessions, training of trainers (ToT) courses and workshops with young people organized within the framework of the Orthodox Youth Meeting (ITO) Cahul 2026, the project supports priests to promote messages of non-violence, respect and human dignity, contributing to raising awareness about different types of violence that can occur in the family. * identifying success stories and lessons learned from participating in the project; Priests involved in the project will be invited to reflect and share either lessons learned or success stories. By documenting these situations, the project aims to inspire other communities to initiate or intensify their community efforts to support families. Activities and approach. During the nine months of implementation, the project will include a series of activities such as training within the training program, accompaniment and reflection sessions, and community activities aimed at responding to needs identified at the local level. The project approach is participatory, emphasizing the active involvement of the group of 16 priests from the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia and the Archdiocese of Chisinau, in all stages of the process. Partnership and expected impact. The partnership between Diaconia and Catholic Relief Services reflect a shared commitment to promoting human dignity and social cohesion. The contribution of experts from the Romanian Orthodox Church, who have roles in facilitating the training program and guiding priests in implementing their own initiatives in communities, brings to the project valuable expertise in the pastoral-social approach and in supporting local communities. The "Community and Communion" project supports the strengthening of families and the prevention of child separation, by involving local communities and priests as key actors. Through these interventions, the project contributes to the prevention of domestic violence and the development of safer and more supportive communities. The initiative is part of the context of 2026 - the Year of Tribute to the Pastoral Care of the Christian Family and the Commemorative Year of the Holy Women of the Calendar (myrrhbearers, martyrs, pious women, wives and mothers), for peace at home and for raising children in the light of the teachings of Christ the Savior, through collaboration with community institutions and resources.