A proud display of skills
THE challenge for many societies today is  providing opportunities for young people, who, for some reason or the other, do not have formal education.
It has long been established that if left alone, these young people are more likely to gravitate towards a life of crime and anti-social behaviour. The response to such a phenomenon is what would make a difference.
In Guyana, most people are by now aware of the Citizen Security Programme (CSP) and its component that targets these young people. The visionary programme, funded by the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank(IDB)  is managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
At the end of its cycle in a few months, it will have realized the provision of life-skills training to more than 1,400 young people in 10 communities in Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica)  and 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne). This is indeed a remarkable achievement, when combined with the expected impact of creating safe neighbourhoods.
In this week’s column, we recognize the communities in Region 4, and the infrastructure that has been set up to guide these young people at reference to a positive path in life.
At the four nights of GUYEXPO, the young people of Buxton, Sophia, Agricola/McDoom and Annandale/Plaisance had the opportunity of displaying their newly acquired skills.
The many persons who visited the CSP booth were deeply impressed by what the programme is doing for these young people, and what was heartening was that several of them actually received offers of employment and for the use of their services.
This is the element that is required to make the programme a complete success: Support from the business community and the society. The Ministry of Home Affairs is urging potential employers to utilize this pool of skills, which ranges from cosmetology, joinery, cake-making and decorating, catering, computer repairs, welding, auto mechanics, electrical installation, and garment construction.
A complete register is available at the CSP Secretariat, located at the Ogle International Airport Road. You can also call on telephone number: 222-8862 for more information.