Linden youths taught importance of social cohesion

─ to implement projects sponsored by the Dept.

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, October 20, 2019

Members of various youth groups across Linden recently benefitted from a workshop facilitated by the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport. The two-day exercise themed ‘unity in diversity: bridging gaps in communities’ focused on key aspects of nation-building

The diversity-based training programme has been conducted in several regions with community leaders and regional officials, targetted to participate.

Lead Facilitator, Will Campbell, gave an overview of the session. “Its purpose is to help people identify their biases and learn how those biases stymie regional development and national development… we want them to get past the biases and the stereotypes, to get past the divisions and look at how you can see those differences as an asset rather than a liability and how you can reach across those differences and pull all those diverse people and help them to reach for one common goal,” Campbell explained.

One of the sessions focused on the three B’s: Binding, Bonding and Bridging, which enabled the youths to see the importance of expanding their groups to include others and bonding with other groups, thus enriching their national experience.

Other sessions included lessons on values and diversity, uncovering preconceptions and stereotypes, how divisions make us weaker, how diversity makes us stronger, unity for cohesive communities amongst others.

At the end of the exercise, the young people were divided into two groups and tasked with implementing a project aimed at promoting social cohesion within their community. This initiative will be sponsored by the Department of Social Cohesion and other stakeholders.

CATEGORIES
TAGS