THE training component of the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Youth Empowerment and Inclusion and Reconciliation Project (YEIRP) began last Friday at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Kingston, Georgetown.

Thirty youth leaders drawn from Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica), Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) will be trained to play a role in the development of their communities and the country.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud, opened the conference which was attended by United Nations Deputy Resident Representative Chisa Mikami and YEIRP Project Coordinator Vikram Bharrat.
The concept of the programme was outlined as well as the expected outcomes, especially as they relate to influencing positive change in youths across the country.
Persaud stressed that one of the Ministry’s leading expectations is to have 30 persons, who are well energised and equipped, as well as competent and efficient, who will be dedicated and committed to giving their best to their fellow youths, while being guided by the Ministry to play a more constructive role.
The YEIRP is aimed at addressing the challenges of inadequate youth participation in local governance by providing training to develop the capacity of youths to become protagonists for good social and governance practices and to participate in local governance, he said.
The Local Government Minister also highlighted that the training will position the youths to become instruments of positive change in their communities and the country at large.
He said that the youths are being positioned, as of now, to add to their armory of leadership skills and   people skills and strategies to interact with  fellow citizens  in their  respective communities.
The Government of Guyana expressed its gratitude for the continued support from the UNDP for such programmes and initiatives for the empowerment and betterment of Guyanese.
“The UNDP country office has always sought to play a major role in assisting Guyana in implementing our developmental agenda and particularly in the area of capacity building, empowerment, reconciliation, conflict resolution … the Government of Guyana is extremely grateful for the timely and consistent intervention made by the UNDP in our country,” he pointed out, noting that the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has benefited immensely from this support.
Meanwhile, Mikami said that the UNDP is enthusiastic about the likely outcomes from the project and it is expected that over time, persons such as ministers, prime ministers and presidents will emerge from among the youths being trained under the programme.
The UNDP Deputy Resident Representative also said that the timing of the programme is opportune, given that the country is currently engaged in conversation about local governance.
Mikami noted that the programme will address issues affecting youths such as perceived marginalisation and being at risk for unemployment and/or underemployment, crime or violence, teen or unplanned pregnancy, and other social and economic ills.
She urged the youth leaders to use the skills gained, and the lessons learnt, for further development in their communities by active participation through the local, regional, and national government process.
The training would continue until May, YEIRP Project Coordinator Bharrat said.
He indicated that following this, the participants will be placed in selected local government entities and will be tasked with carrying out a community project, which is supposed to enhance the lives of people living within the community, especially youths.