By Nafeeza Yahya

MAHENDRA Phagwah of Number Two Village, East Canje, Berbice, is the lone Guyanese among 50 youths worldwide who will participate in a youth training initiative at New York University (NYU) from July 23 to August 1 this year.

The training will be facilitated by MCW Global through its Young Leaders Access Programme (YLPA). MCW Global is a non-profit organisation that assists communities around the world to achieve greater levels of education, improved health and increased economic security by addressing pressing needs affecting communities worldwide.

This they hope to achieve by empowering current leaders and preparing youths to become the leaders of tomorrow. Phagwah was selected to become one of those persons in the hope that he can make a difference in his community.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, the young man said he is elated to be chosen and will use the knowledge acquired to tackle social issues, more particularly, school dropout. Phagwah himself was once a school dropout.

The YLAP programme is conducted in three phases. It begins with an intensive summer retreat that facilitates youth leadership development and how to implement a project from beginning to end.

The participants will receive mentorship from some of the most distinguished leaders at

NYU, Champlain College and MCW Alumni to help transform their issue into a plan.

In the second phase: Vision Planning (Project development), the young leaders will develop and implement their plan into one that can become a global model through the assistance of the mentors. They can then apply for start-up funding from the organisation to implement their project.

The third phase of the project is known as Alumni Mentorship and Ongoing
Support and here is where the projects of the young leaders will be monitored and supported, both remotely or with quarterly meetings/visits by their mentors from the summer retreat.

To be eligible, the 22-year-old had to be shortlisted through several rounds of questions and assessments to determine whether the issue he wished to tackle was worthy over the thousands submitted worldwide.

Phagwah told the Guyana Chronicle that, given his personal story and struggles of not allowing poverty to stop him from acquiring an education, despite having to drop out to earn, he was encouraged by many apply for the programme.

INSPIRATIONAL
His story was seen an inspirational one and provided hope for others who experienced similar issues.

“After the story was highlighted, a lot of persons began sending me the link to the programme and encouraged me to apply. I was able to use that to show them from my personal experiences and the many that reached out to me, how much poverty is preventing some from getting an education. This is submitted in addition to the results from the surveys and questionnaires I had people complete,” he related.

Phagwah expressed gratitude to all who helped him along the way. He is eagerly looking forward to the retreat and returning home more knowledgeable and equipped to make a difference in his community and across Guyana.

“Apart from guidance that I will be receiving, the YLAP graduates will have opportunity to turn their vision into concrete projects by applying to the MCW Alumni Ventures Fund, which provides a year of start-up funding and mentorship to recipients. I firmly believe that much more will be done to tackle this issue. It is close to me as I was a former high school dropout and I know that there are many out there that weren’t as lucky as I am to have another chance at an education, and therefore, I wish to be their voice too. This is something I have a deep burning desire for, since it is close to home,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

The young man, who is part of several groups and clubs, spends most of his spare time volunteering and giving back to his community.

His parents are mute and deaf which made it difficult for them to earn and support him throughout his high school life. He was forced to drop out to earn. He persevered and never gave up on his passion for an education and eventually received a scholarship from the MMP Foundation for Excellence and made the most of the opportunity, passing his CSEC examinations with flying colours.  He is now working and studying as well as taking care of his sister, who is in high school.