YOUTHS got a boost to their knowledge base when a Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) funded research, methods and skills training course, for staff/volunteers of St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) and the Friends of St. Francis, in Regions Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), started at Port Mourant, Corentyne, on Wednesday. SFCD President, Mr. Alex Foster observed that the initiative, a first for the Caribbean, was taken after recognising deficiencies in the organisation, which forced the visionaries to have them remedied, through an input by the CYP Caribbean Centre.
Speaking at the mid-morning ceremony, at SFCD Headquarters, Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, he described the six week exercise, as one which will have a ripple effect, with other CARICOM nationals becoming beneficiaries.
Foster said the organisers will continue to visit the locally based organisations in order to adapt their methodologies, with respect to youth worker development.
Acting Regional Director of CYP Caribbean Centre, Ms. Glenyss James, in her remarks, observed that research is a critical aspect of developmental work, since it is necessary for decision making and will help the researcher to explore and understand different aspects of the social life of young people.
She said:”Too often we, as youth development workers, jump on the bandwagon of current programmes and stick plasters here and there without seeking to understand what are the root issues.
Other needs
There are different needs at different stages of the life cycle and, even among young people, research has shown that, while there are a few common issues affecting them, other needs vary across race, class, gender and geographic location.
Programmes to facilitate the development of young people must, therefore, not only be timely but evidence based if they are to produce the desired results,” she emphasised.
James informed the gathering of the report on the CARICOM Commission on Youth, which highlighted one of the reasons contributing to the decline of some youth development structures in the region, as the lack of evidence based responses and recognised initiatives which provide training in research.
“The evidence approach to youth development work has long been championed by the Commonwealth Youth Programme as is evidenced in the Plan for Youth Empowerment action points. CYP has, therefore, made research an integral part of our revised diploma for the pilot undergraduate degree programme at the University of the West Indies,” she explained.
Complimenting Foster, James said he has a passion for youth development, as his organisation has left no stone unturned while expanding, significantly, with partners investing, even as more youth clubs get on board in recent years.
She underscored the fact that the programme gives one the opportunity to go beyond mere observation and would help the youths obtain the relevant knowledge, skills and attitude to conduct research.
James is optimistic that the course participants apply their new found knowledge to obtain a better understanding of the youth issues in their respective communities and enhance the development and implementation of new and appropriate projects based on evidence garnered from the research.
Next level
Meanwhile, the course facilitator, Ms. Barbara Thomas- Holder challenged the non-governmental organisation (NGO) to get to the next level by being a stimulus for change, as they take the training to the other democratic regions and further afield.
The University of Guyana (UG) lecturer urged the 25 participants to take ethical issues into consideration, so that their methodologies will not be questioned, even as they gather their scientific findings which will, subsequently, be published.
One of those participating, Andrea (only name stated) expressed gratitude, on behalf of Food for the Poor, to the sponsors for affording her the opportunity to access higher learning, which will better equip her to carry out her responsibilities, more effectively, in the Amerindian communities.
