THE Pele Alumni Foundation hosted a two-day annual Youth Development Seminar which opened on Tuesday.
The seminar, aimed at young people aged 11-17, opened at the Marian Academy Auditorium, Carifesta Avenue.
This is the annual Alumni’s programme for youths during the Easter break which concluded yesterday (Wednesday) saw over 150 youths participating.

The programme, which began in 2012 runs youth through career guidance and development, while providing scholarships for young students.
Alumni Chairman Denis Carrington, said that the goal is to help fill education gaps in communities.
“We formed a charity to fill that gap, if it is one person we can help, we get donations in the [USA] States to support exclusively, education purposes in Guyana. The purpose is to help subsidise some of the scholarships of some of the high school recipients.”

Carrington says the impact of the foundation is being realised one child at a time.
“We had initially six students in high school that we supported, [through] lessons, books, transportation. Once they finished high school, we now have seven students enrolled at [the] University of Guyana in which we are paying all their fees. [We are] working along with Mark Kirton.”

Carrington said while the Pele Alumni has a footballing background, their focus goes beyond just sports.
“Not because we have graduated from university we have forgotten where we came from, so since 2012 we have made the trip to support the endeavours,” He added.
President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and businesswomen Dee George was the feature presenter on the opening day and demonstrated the importance of time, among other things, to those present.

The seminar was designed to help the youths learn Acceptable Social Behaviour/Proper Decision Making, Self-Awareness, Conflict Resolution, Computer Literacy & Cyber Security and Suicide and Mental Health, among other topics.

There were also other incentives for some participants with students collecting laptops for their presentation skills.
The youngsters benefitted from a field trip to the CARICOM Headquarters as the wrap-up for the session yesterday.