With UNICEF collaboration…
THE Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) established two new websites last week Thursday, to engage youths on a cross section of issues.
Youths can visit the sites at www.youthmedia.gy and www.health.gov.gy/healthclub and become members of a virtual community where views, ideas and activities are shared.
Through the Health Ministry initiative, there are 52 such clubs in secondary schools across the different Regions of Guyana and their aim is to teach students to promote health messages, empower themselves with information and practice healthy living.
Youth Media Guyana (YMG) is solely funded by UNICEF and received support also from National Communications Network (NCN), the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), to foster youth expression through the media.
UNICEF Country Representative, Mr. Suleiman Braimoh, said the sites are empowerment tools that make available new information young people can translate into life skills.
“I am challenging you to use this power to act as agents of change,” he said, on the occasion, directing his remarks to secondary school students, who were in the gathering, together with Health Ministry officials and other stakeholders at Regency Suites Hotel, on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Braimoh lauded the collaboration with the Ministry and said the efforts of all those involved are invaluable.
He told those gathered that the value of the Internet is that it facilitates fast and efficient communication.
“Who knows what will happen tomorrow,” Braimoh speculated.
He said, with today’s availability of an upgraded Internet service by Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T), the possibilities are extended.
In that context, Braimoh said the young users of the websites must build certain dynamics into the enhanced communication system as it is advanced.
He reiterated his exhortation for young people to affect change in Guyana and pointed out that, in other countries, children have been able to do so by passing on simple messages.

STRATEGY

Braimoh said, in moving forward, a strategy must be formalised for and through which the health clubs and YMG are converted to ensure changes.
“UNICEF stands ready, at all times, to offer support,” he assured.
Braimoh said his agency does not own the developmental projects but, rather, is supportive of the Government and civil society through technical expertise and resources for achieving their objectives.
He said UNICEF is looking forward to seeing the benefits of the websites expanded, upgraded and impacting change locally, in the near future.
The diplomat observed that success will not be the number of hits that the websites receive but the impact on the visitors in the different areas of development.
Director of the Adolescent Unit in the Health Ministry, Dr. Marcia Paltoo, in her remarks, said facilitating the websites is a step towards fulfilling a basic right of every child.
Article 17 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child said each child has the right to access information that is important to its well-being and it can be obtained from radio, newspapers, books, computers and other sources. Adults have the responsibility to make sure that the information is not harmful but helps a child to understand that which is needed.
UNICEF Adolescent Development and Participation Officer, Ms. Jewell Crosse, added that the websites are a step that takes youth engagement to a different level.
She said the messages advanced on the websites will reinforce positive behaviours and better the society.
“Children will be seen and heard and the expressions of our youth will be taken to another level,” Crosse agreed.
She explained that the beliefs and concerns of young people, relative to a cross section of issues, will be articulated by way of another medium.
Crosse noted that such a medium will equip young people with reasoning skills to address problems they may encounter.
“The benefits will be felt by the youth and will spin off to the community,” she said.