CHILDREN and teachers from several East Bank Demerara schools, yesterday, gathered at the Diamond Secondary School for a youth symposium and folk afternoon under the theme ‘Cultural folklore; celebrating 44’.The initiative was the brainchild of Deputy Regional Executive Officer Ms. Ameena Hinds, who also brought onboard the Regional Education Department of Region 4.

Yesterday’s highpoint was group discussions which focused on suicide, alcohol and substance abuse, and sex as the topics discussed. Before the topics were discussed, the students began the afternoon’s proceedings with prayers and recital of the National Pledge, followed by the chanting of several folk songs many of which seemed foreign to some of the students.
The event was also attended by Region 4 Chairman, Clement Corlette, and Regional Education Officer, Ms Jennifer Bourne. The facilitators of the programme, who guided the students in their discussion on the three topics, were National Aids Programme Secretariat representative Nazim Hussain, who lectured on sex; and Senior Welfare Officer Holda Scott and Welfare Officer Onica Pearson, who lectured on suicide and alcohol and substance abuse.

The symposium will today be taken to the Quamina Primary School at Beterverwagting, ECD, where several schools from the East Coast will be brought together for a similar activity.

According to Ms. Hinds, the topics are very current ones, and are affecting the core of society. As such, she said, the RDC would be working with the Regional Education Department to address the issues through several initiatives planned for Region 4.
Written By Leroy Smith