Empowering the young people of Linden

By Hugh McLean

THE Linden Youth Leaders (LYL) is a non-governmental organisation and was founded in April 2016 by Linden’s past Mayor Carwyn Holland and Roshelle Sparman. It all unfolded as Mayor Holland was approached by a concerned Sparman, who was accompanied by her mother, expressing concern about the well-being of the youth in Linden.

It was there that the two undertook to work together to get the group up and running, with Sparman enlisting Linden youth attached to the University of Guyana and Mayor Holland and his wife Nikosa Holland spearheading the advancement of the group.
To date, the group has grown considerably and is made up primarily of students between Grades Nine to 12 and recent school graduates. The main purpose of the LYL includes: empowering young people for their future endeavours; fostering a sense of discipline and leadership; promoting mental and spiritual growth; promoting opportunities for young people to serve their communities and the wider world and harnessing a sense of national pride.
Since its formation, LYL has tremendously impacted the Linden community and is seen as one of the most active youth groups in the region.

LYL Achievements

Its success stories include :the staging of a Ride-a-thon and Family Cohesion Day in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Social Protection; a human rights day march in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund; Valentine’s Day treats for loved ones; gift exchanges for hard-working members; annual Christmas Season Toy distribution in collaboration with Mayor Holland and the Cecil Holland Foundation, among other initiatives.

According to the group’s Facebook page, one of the primary aims of their organisation is to exhibit positive development in their community. They intend to see the empowerment of youths and create opportunities for them to serve their communities and the wider world, while also harnessing within them a great pride for their nation.

Eighteen-year-old Jamal Europe said that he joined this group because of his interest in making a difference.

“I want to help my community in different areas that it is struggling in,” said Europe in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine. “This group helped to discipline me and give me the leadership capacity so that I can empower others like myself and attend different conferences.”

Europe recently completed Grade 12 (Sixth Form) at the Mackenzie High School. He is currently attending the University of Guyana (UG), studying Biology and hopes to “make a difference there also”.

“This organisation helps me grow mentally and spiritually, it gives me a sense of national pride knowing that I am helping to develop my community. It’s good knowing that we can change the views of [adults] on the youths to a good perspective,” posited Europe.
Another member, 21-year-old Anthony Jordan said he joined this group because he loves his community and country and he thinks that it has a great influence on him to further his career as an aspiring minister of business.

“I gained a lot of wisdom and I matured a lot. I learned a lot about politics and to expect the unexpected and to also apply what I’ve learnt from this group in life,” explained Jordan. He served as the third vice-president and said that this organisation is effective in leadership quality and is helping him to become the person he wants to become.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old, Naomi Marshall of Linden, Mackenzie, who is currently the LYL president, said she has been the president for about a few months and will be the president for the rest of 2019. She joined the group because she was encouraged by Holland, and she thought that the group seemed very interesting and she liked what the group represented, which is “giving the youths a voice.’’ She also liked that the group focused on doing community projects, volunteering and allowing the youths to play a part in community development.

“I’ve learnt that not everything you do, you have to get a reward in return for it,” said Marshall, adding, “It gives me an urge to volunteer and help develop my community in any small way because it’s the small things that count.”

Cleaning of the riverfront is one of the activities that they carry out at least once a month and it is part of the Linden Restoration Project (LRP). “Cleaning of the riverfront is just a small but significant role in the environment. It is promoting cohesiveness in the community, because I got to meet persons of different cultures, ages, beliefs, religions and ethnicities,” she said

According to Marshall, the group plans on carrying out workshops, where they will be addressing social issues such as drug abuse and domestic violence. They plan to keep going with their restoration project and visit orphanages. They also have their “Bridge Light up” fast approaching in December and this is a big thing for them, because it brings people from Linden and some nearby communities together to one area and for them to have “clean fun.”

The LYL has in store several activities for the rest of the year, including activities for the entire family, seminars and conferences. In fact, a conference is scheduled to be held later this month.

“A few youths getting to hear or getting to be involved, it will make a difference, because they share this with their friends and family and that is the effect we want,” posited Marshall.