OVER 670 youths were bestowed awards at the gold, silver and bronze levels, and encouraged by President Donald Ramotar to value education as the President Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme reached another milestone yesterday. The programme, modelled after the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and adopted by former President Janet Jagan in 1998, has over the years equipped over 13,000 youths between the ages of 14 to 25 through four core areas, namely: services, expedition, skills and physical recreation. About 6,700 awards have to date been conferred.
At the gold level, the highest of the awards, Jamal Frazer and Onieka Stellingberg copped the prize for Most Outstanding Awardees,  and Region 3 the most outstanding unit. They received trophies from President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Alfred King, who is also a PYARG executive.
The award that was described by Minister Anthony as Guyana’s premier youth programme has equipped participants with the skills to become individual and community leaders and role models, particularly in the HIV/AIDS programme where many are trained as peer educators.
With the introduction of the Caravan of Hope, mobile awardees were able to disseminate the message about the fight against HIV/AIDS, reaching youths in Regions 1 (Barima-Waini); 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne); 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 8 (Potaro-Siparuni); 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); and 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
Unit leaders were trained in peer counselling, while peer educators were trained to use theatre and the performing arts to craft and present messages about HIV/AIDS and other issues that affect youths. 
Many of the participants offered useful services to others, ranging from painting of pedestrian crossings, working at orphanages and hospitals, homes for the elderly, care of their environment, to participating in environmental projects.
An important venture of the award took place on Shell Beach in Region 1, where leaders and participants spent one week pursuing efforts to safeguard the leatherback turtle, a precious amphibious creature, from extinction.
In his “charge” to the awardees, President Ramotar told them that their achievements today only marked the beginning of the journey through life and its many challenges in today’s world that call for wise decision-making and action.
Reference was made to drug addiction, gun crimes and other vices that President Ramotar said pose a greater challenge to the youth population of today, tarnishing the image of the society and country.
“We have to arm our young people with the skills and necessary training to face the challenges that are ahead of us… The need to be multi-disciplined is becoming more and more important,” President Ramotar said.
He also encouraged them to travel extensively throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, as there is much more to be seen and experienced, especially in the far-flung areas.
       
With over 30 per cent of the country’s budget going to the social sector and technical vocational programmes such as the Board of Industrial Training and the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme targeting school dropouts, President Ramotar said the government has been playing its part in empowering the nation’s youth.
Guyana’s topping the Caribbean region at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has vindicated assertions that the government’s heavy investments in the social sector, particularly education, has been paying off. (GINA)