ONE year after its formal launch, the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) will be proposing to government that it should adopt the year 2016 as the ‘Year of Guyanese Youth’. On the heels of International Youth Day, at a symposium on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda on Wednesday, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry, said government would seek to ensure that the Guyana National Youth Council proposal has the full support of agencies, particularly those geared at fostering youth development.
“The Year of the Guyanese Youth will prioritise youth development on the national agenda,” said Henry, adding that the proposal will build on the momentum of the National Youth Policy and the official National Youth Council.

Recently Guyana’s Youth Policy was drafted by the Ministry of Education and sent to President David Granger. The policy caters to the needs of youths in the age-group of 15-35 years, which constitutes over 50 percent of the population.
The policy seeks to achieve a nation where all the young people are safe and healthy in a society in which they have equal access to opportunities, can participate in public life, and are empowered to meaningfully contribute to Guyana’s sustainable, national development.
Minister Henry said the policy will soon come into play given that the final draft has been completed and was sent for deliberations.
The rationale behind GNYC’s proposal, according to council member Norwell Hinds, is to assist countries that were affected by natural disasters, such as Dominica, to be funded by the proceeds of activities and fundraisers throughout the year.
At the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, President Granger threw Guyana’s support behind the new sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
“Guyana will work tirelessly, in accordance with our national plans and aspirations, to build a modern, peaceful and prosperous nation, in which all citizens share equally in the benefits of development,” the President stated, as he supported the 2030 ‘Agenda for Sustainable Development’.

SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global process that builds on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were a part of the Millennium agenda that was decided and agreed by global leaders in the year 2000. Eight goals were outlined in the Millennium that dealt with eradicating poverty, achieving gender equality, reducing hunger and reducing child mortality, among others.
Two years ago deliberations on SDGs started and at that time it was called the post-2015 agenda. There was a series of consultations that took place within the UN system itself, then there were consultations globally with world leaders, communities and people. Thereafter, world leaders began contemplating the next agenda for development since the MDGs were coming to an end this year.
As a result, the 2030 SDGs agenda was introduced. SDGs are basically a series of 17 goals which global leaders have committed to outline the global way forward to end all forms of poverty.
At the forum, Minister Henry said the Department of Culture, Youth and Sports under the Education Ministry will ensure that Guyana continues to partner with agencies and countries of the world, in realising sustainable youth development as outlined in the SDGs agenda.

By Shivanie Sugrim