– urged to be leaders, ambassadors in their communities to develop Guyana

FIFTY-FIVE youths from across Guyana on Sunday morning graduated from the Youth Leadership Programme which was sponsored by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport.

The seventh module II graduation ceremony was held at the Madewini Training Centre, where Director of Youth Ms Leslyn Boyce in her address to the graduating class urged the young leaders to become ambassadors of the programme and use the knowledge they have gained during the training to make a difference in their respective communities.
“Guyana is depending on you young people and I’m glad today to have been given the opportunity to give brief remarks at this closing ceremony… hundreds of youths have benefitted from the training programme and are contributing meaningfully in society. You are now social [sic] empowered to make a difference in your lives and your communities,” she stated.

Ms Boyce further stated that the young leaders are now equipped with knowledge of leadership skills that will better prepare them to take up leadership positions at the local, regional and international levels.

Ms Susan Farnum, Personal Assistant to Minister of Public Health, who also gave brief remarks at the ceremony, charged the young leaders to make good use of educational opportunities that may come their way, so that they can become equipped with the necessary skills that will help them play a major role in the development of Guyana.

Ms Farnum also urged the graduates to develop the attribute of perseverance since in their journey to become great leaders they may face some difficulties and it is commitment and hard work that will one day make them exceptional leaders in their communities.
“Whatever you decide to do, I want you to commit to it…develop the habit of not up giving when things get tough, be someone who keeps going, who tries harder, who loves their country too much to do anything less than his or her best,” she stated.

The training programme was organised and conducted by the Department of Youth, Youth Empowerment Unit at the Madewini Training Centre, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. It targeted youth leaders and those with leadership potential across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

The unit executed a number of programmes during a two-weekend period, when the trainees were taught the necessary skills needed to ensure that they would become better leaders and change agents.

As part of the programme, a ‘Mock Youth Parliament’ session was conducted. Such provided the participants with an opportunity to express their views on several topics in relation to the youths of Guyana.