A US$150,000 project sgreement aimed at addressing the challenges of inadequate youth participation in governance, and persistent social changes that deprive them of their rights, was on Friday signed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. The signing signified commencement of this Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project. It was done in the ministry’s Fort Street, Kingston boardroom, and was intended to provide youths an opportunity to prepare for leadership roles within their communities.
The Local Government & Regional Development Ministry will be the implementing partner for this project, and aside from the UNDP, other responsible partners include the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. The project unit, to be manned by a project coordinator and a project support staff, will be stationed at the Local Government Ministry.
Among those present at Friday’s ceremony were Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud; UNDP Resident Representative Khadija Meusa; Permanent Secretary in the Youth Ministry, Alfred King; and other government functionaries and members of the UNDP team.
UNDP Programme Analyst Trevor Benn will exercise oversight of the project.
Minister Persaud observed that this is yet another initiative that would strengthen human resource capacity across Regions 2, 3, 4, 5,6 and 10. In fact, any investment in capacity-building is deemed an activity that would bring untold benefits to Guyanese, he offered.
The project is intended to be spread over a two-year period, and will be guided by a steering committee and the project office.
The 30 persons to be recruited will reflect the balance in the society, the minister assured.
He informed the media that the recruited individuals must be between the ages of 18 and 25; should be involved in community-based activities; must be in tune with current issues at various levels; should consistently avail themselves to participate in the programme; be able to work and communicate with various partners in the process; and must have some degree of computer literacy.
Meanwhile, the UNDP Resident Representative said she was pleased to be associated with this important initiative, and was moreso personally very happy to be able to recognise the roles young people must play in the development of their community and country.
The programme aims to increase youth participation in developmental programmes, and provides a feedback mechanism for both the youth and policy-makers to resolve disputes at the local level, Meusa said.
“This is an opportune time to launch this project, given that youth today make up more that 60 percent of the country’s population. Today’s generation is facing new challenges posed by a fast-changing world and very competitive environment, which requires totally new skills to be successful.
“The objective is to identify and develop the capacity of potential youth leaders at the community level, to become change agents for good social and governance practices,” she said.
In providing youths with the skills needed to face challenges and enhance their professional careers, Meusa said she was truly hopeful that each participant would use the skills acquired to further develop their respective communities.