IN a significant development aimed at bolstering opportunities for young people in Guyana, representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) convened with officials from the Ministry of Labour Friday morning in the ministry’s boardroom.

Among the notable figures present were Joseph Hamilton, the Minister of Labour, alongside Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas-Meerabux, Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer Ms. Yolanda Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Mr. Richard Maughn, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Ms. Natecia Garraway, and other key officials from both entities.

From the USAID side, Ms. Chloe Noble, General Development Specialist for USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Country Director Ms. Tiffany Daniels, Social Services Advisor, Ms. Shaundell Shipley, Programme Manager (ag) Ms. Leota King, and Programme Implementation Specialist Mr. Rondell Nedd comprised the delegation representing the USAID/Y-RIE team.

The focal point of the meeting centred on USAID’s ongoing and forthcoming initiatives, notably its USAID Youth Resilience Inclusion and Empowerment (Y-RIE) Programme, alongside a comprehensive analysis of strategies to enhance youth resilience, inclusion, and empowerment.

Central to these discussions was the prospect of forging a collaborative partnership between the two entities, aimed at fostering empowerment among vulnerable youth by equipping them with essential technical skills through employment and apprenticeship programmes facilitated by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). This collaboration is set to complement the services offered by the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), including its ‘job readiness’ programmes and counselling services.

With a shared objective of bolstering youth support systems and fortifying resilience against crime and violence, both parties expressed their intent to formalise their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). This agreement seeks to institutionalise cooperation between USAID and the Ministry of Labour, ultimately contributing to the cultivation of productive Guyanese citizens.

At its core, the Y-RIE initiative is a youth-centric endeavour grounded in a public health approach to violence prevention. Tailored to address the needs of at-risk youth aged between 10 to 29, the programme aims to strengthen systems by promoting positive youth development practices. It will facilitate greater coordination between social services and justice institutions, particularly concerning referral mechanisms, while fostering collaboration to enhance community-led crime and violence prevention efforts.

The partnership between USAID and the Ministry of Labour signifies a concerted effort towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for Guyana’s youth, ultimately paving the way for their holistic development and socio-economic empowerment.