Department of Public Information, Guyana

Tag: Youth Camp

  • 400 youths countrywide participate in camp which promotes culture

    400 youths countrywide participate in camp which promotes culture

    The curtains came down on a three-week youth camp in which over 400 youths from all ten regions were exposed to the arts, dance, music and other aspects of Guyanese culture.

    The youth camp was held at twelve locations in all ten administrative regions.

    Minister Ramson hands over a certificate to a participant

    Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, while speaking to the youths at graduation, noted that this investment aims to help unite the country.

    “One of the things that we noticed across the country, was that despite us having great cultures that, it’s a combination of cultures that we have that are segmented across different ethnicities, there were still invisible walls where not everybody was participating in that and sharing in that,” minister Ramson stated.

    He said the ministry has set out to promote and showcase Guyanese talent.

    amson speaking to the participants DSC 7489

    “One of the things that we set out as part of our mission for our ministry was one from the talent side which was to promote and showcase young Guyanese talent.

    “We wanted to knit the country together. We wanted to be a force and a movement that would help to unite the country. One of the ways to do that is to bring common understanding and common appreciation, to know that there is beauty in all culture, all representation of culture,” he said.

    Youths participate in drumming

    He noted that Guyana is very unique because of the make-up of the country and the history of how people came here.

    “Those four hundred persons who were participating in this, they all of you are sharing in various forms of culture and you are learning to love it. You are learning to appreciate it because there is beauty in every culture.

    A dance routine

    It’s a big investment that we are making in you in terms of how you see the country and what President Ali is looking to do with Guyana which is to bring us together, continuously bring us together,” minister Ramson stated.

    He urged the youth to continue to practice what they have learnt and pursue it as there are many opportunities for creatives.

    Some of the participants

    The Minister also urged parents to support their children in their talent.

    “We are already sitting on a big treasure that we sometimes take for granted because it may not be something that we might have been accustomed to growing up or maybe it’s something you have only heard about but you never got an opportunity to experience,” he stated.

    The participants were exposed to basic techniques of drawing and painting. Also, techniques in dance and traditional African and Indian drumming were administered to the youths.

    They were also exposed to tangible and intangible cultures.

    Closing ceremony of the youth camp
  • Gov’t encouraging youth development through WIIN Youth Camp

    Gov’t encouraging youth development through WIIN Youth Camp

    Youths across the country are set to be meaningfully engaged and empowered as the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security unveils a groundbreaking initiative dubbed the Women Innovative and Investment Network (WIIN) Youth Camp.

    The transformative learning course is free and the first of its kind geared towards providing a unique opportunity for self-development and skill enhancement during the months of August and September.

    Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s WIIN- Youth Camp

    Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud on Wednesday told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the WIIN programme is a cornerstone of impactful and meaningful change, touching the lives of thousands of women.

    This one-off extension of the programme will include youths, both male and female, ages 16 to 19 years, who have interest in the diverse range of courses being offered through Coursera’s virtual platform.

    “It gives them an opportunity not only for self-development but to have in hand a certificate that is of worth, that can help them if they are deciding to get into the world of work or to use it in their journey in academia,” Minister Persaud emphasised.

    This programme displays the forward-thinking of the PPP/C administration exemplifying its commitment to innovative and insightful planning for the nation’s future development.

    Set against the backdrop of the country’s rapid development and integration of technology, the WIIN Youth Camp offers courses that mirror global demands. Thus, participants will be exposed to Graphic Design, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, and Social Media Marketing.

    Participants have 30 days to complete the programme and require internet access, a device and email address.

    Interested persons can register on the ministry’s website, social media platform, email or  https://docs.google.com/…/1sgiaTCeEpU9mmOxfpNsThjh…/edit

  • 23 youths graduate from culture camp 2023

    23 youths graduate from culture camp 2023

    Twenty-three youths from the Grove-Diamond area, East Bank Demerara and one from Georgetown, graduated from the Youth Culture Camp, which was hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Friday morning.

    The camp, which took place at the Diamond Secondary School, saw adolescents engaged in art, music, culture, dance, and history for three weeks.

    Participants were also taken on tours to various national landmarks to learn about their significance.

    Some of them voiced their opinions about the programme, expressing their gratitude and noting their favourite aspects.

    Piya Parasram receiving her certificate of completion from Minister Kwame McCoy

    One of the participants, Piya Parasram expressed, “The experience for this programme for me is very new. It’s enlightening, it’s refreshing, and to me it’s very educational, because certain things that I didn’t know about, I got the chance to learn, including dance, music, cultural heritage, and art.”

    These, she added entailed folk, classical and Indian dances, learning to play Indian and African drums, and various techniques in art and craft.

    “My favourite subject out of all of this is dancing, and I hope that I’ll get to come and [participate in] the next youth camp,” she said.

    She described the camp as ‘very educational’, and encouraged other young people to come on board.

    Another participant, Leroy Evans said while he was exposed to similar cultural activities, drumming was his favourite.

    Leroy Evans

    “I really took a liking to it, and I noticed that I have a natural talent for it, so I am going to pursue it in the future,” the young man told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

    Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, remarked on the brilliant cultural display showcased by the graduating students.

    Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy

    He said the mixture and appreciation of culture displayed by the students is exactly what the government aims to achieve for the entire country.

    “That image with those four persons with the drums is a fascinating, award-winning image. Not only because they had before them the drums on display, but primarily because it looked like an image that truly represents Guyana… That mixture is what we strive for every single day as a government,” he said.

    (from left) Leroy Evans, Piya Parasram, Ceana Henry, and Trishna Ajodha playing the djembe (African drums) and tassa (Indian drums)

    The minister also commended the culture ministry for educating persons on their cultures, as well as the history of the country.

    “Whether we are Afro-Guyanese, Amerindian, Portuguese, Indo-Guyanese or any of the other races—mixed and otherwise—all of the cultures of Guyana belong to all of us. We all have to embrace the culture. It is what makes us unique. It is what makes us that special group of people that the world can look on and identify as a diverse group of people in one country,” Minister McCoy expressed.

    Further, he urged the youths not to be misled by those who seek to sow seeds of division among Guyanese due to cultural differences, but to continue to utilise their knowledge and share in one each other’s cultures towards the goal of achieving a unified Guyana.

  • Region Three youth camp participants commend programme

    Region Three youth camp participants commend programme

    The 25 students who participated in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Annual Youth Camp in Region Three have lauded the programme, which they say has improved their knowledge in several areas, including Guyanese culture.  

    Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

    The camp which was the first of its kind in the region, provided young people from as young as six years old with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of music, art, dance, and aspects of Guyanese culture.

    During the closing ceremony which was held at the Leonora Secondary School, students shared their experience during the three weeks programme.

    Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar with the participants of the youth Camp

    Nine-year-old Navayauvana Ramlakhan of Cornelia Ida Primary School said he enjoyed the programme.

    “Some of the things I learnt is perspective in art. In dancing, it is 90 per cent [mental] and 10 per cent of your body. In the drumming I learnt different rhythms like base tone chime and my favourite part was the drumming,” the enthusiastic young man said.

    Jacinth Williams receiving her certificate of participation from Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar

    Abeeda Murrell, who attends the West Demerara Secondary expressed similar sentiments.

    “It was really fun and I got to make a lot of friends. In drumming and in art I learnt that it is harder than it looks. The children that performed did really good and my favourite part was the drumming,” the 12-year-old said.

    As part of the closing event, the students showcased their talents in dance, drumming, poetry and art. They also received certificates of participation.

    Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar who was present at the event, said he was impressed with the talent displayed by the students.

    Students performing a dance

    “That is developing self-confidence. That is developing the ability to speak in front of crowds. That is developing a capability to conquer fears,” Minister Indar said.

    The Minister told the students that he was proud of their ability to stand on stage and execute their tasks. He recalled that as a child, he was shy and did not participate in school-related activities.

    “My advice is simple, continue doing what you are doing, expand doing what you are doing and get more involved. Never be the child that is self-recluse. Do not try to be that child. Try to be the one that is involved. Self-recluse does not do anything for you or for anybody else,” he encouraged.

    The youth camp which was held throughout the country is in keeping with the PPP/C Government’s commitment to invest in the development of the country’s youth population.

    Only recently young people were given a significant role to play in Guyana’s development with the launch of the President’s Youth Advisory Council.

  • 28 students benefit from youth camp programme 

    28 students benefit from youth camp programme 

    – better informed of Guyanese culture, history

    Approximately 28 students from communities between Buxton to Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD) completed the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Annual Youth Camp Programme on Friday.

    Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, along with the students at the graduation ceremony.

    The students were exposed to various aspects of Guyanese culture and history, through art and craft, drumming and music over the past three weeks.

    Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall distributed the certificates of participation to the students during a simple ceremony at the Lusignan Community Centre, ECD.

    Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall handing over a certificate to one of the students.

    Minister Nandlall told students that the programme aligns with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ vision.

    “You being brought together in this simple but significant engagement is part of the Government’s policy of promoting this idea of ‘One Guyana,” bringing our young people together because you are our most precious asset,” he asserted.

    Another student receiving her certificate of participation from Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall.

    The Attorney General noted that the PPP/C Government has a number of programmes dedicated to ensuring the nation’s youths realise their full potential and make meaningful contributions to society.

    These include programmes in the health, education and agriculture sectors. Government, he noted, is also working to ensure that the country’s natural resources are prudently managed to create a better future for the young people.

    The students during drumming demonstration and history

    “You have an important agenda in which you, our young people feature prominently. So, many events like this…will be organised that will expose to the type of orientation that we are currently inculcating in the young people of our country,” he told the students.

    The youth camp programme is one of many being facilitated by the ministry during the school vacation. The Teach Them Young: Learn to Swim programme was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, which saw some 1,500 students participating.

    A self-defense class targeting girls ages 11 to 18 was also organised by the ministry.

  • 240 youngsters complete recreational camp hosted by MOE, USAID

    240 youngsters complete recreational camp hosted by MOE, USAID

    (Georgetown, August 25, 2017) – The Ministry of Education’s Youth Department and USAID today hosted a graduation ceremony for 240 youngers from Sophia, East Ruimveldt, East La Penitence and Lodge who participated in a one-month recreation camp in their respective communities.

    During the camp the youngsters were exposed to teaching in design, arts and craft, animation, sports and life skills.

    This year’s Youth Camp was held under the theme ‘Greening: Empowered to foster Development.’

    The Department of Youth in keeping with the five key strategies of the National Youth Policy embarked on these summer camps. The aim of the five strategies were to:

    • Improve the social, cultural and emotional skills of youths;
    • Produce a productive and enterprising workplace;
    • Develope quality education and market oriented skills;
    • Encourage leadership, participation and representation; and
    • Promote good health, security and safety.

    The Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr. Steve Ninvalle in his remarks noted that the primary objective of the camps was to carry out a mixture of activities with youths that could improve their resilience to constant exposure and buffeting of negative social influencers. “Moreover, youths were provided with skills that could increase their employability and enhance their awareness of youth and citizen responsibilities, duties and rights,” he said.

    “What’s more, is that one of the expected outcomes of the camp is that the teens, who have completed these camps, are expected to influence other young people when they return to their communities.  Their peers will gravitate to be like them and emulate their improved skills and behaviours, thus having a pull effect,” Mr. Ninvalle emphasised.

    This program must have been impactful since, during the period, participants were exposed to tailored training in selected life skills, employability and citizenship set, not available anywhere else, but identified from the Government’s National Youth Policy.

    “It can be therefore be affirmed that this year’s youth camp serves as a testimony to Department of Youth’s and the Ministry of Education’s commitment to departing valuable knowledge and life skills to the young people of Guyana,” the DPS indicated.

    Despite the many financial obstacles, youth camps will be a continuous feature of the DOY’s work plan as the Department will continue to make every effort to secure sponsorship to make these camps possible. Thus, upcoming youths of Guyana can, therefore, rest assured that they too will be able to benefit from an extraordinary opportunity such as this.

    In his remarks, Mr. Mark Oviatt – Principal Officer of the USAID recalled his days of attending camps. He noted that at those camps he made the best friendships.

    While emphasising the importance of the recreational camp, Oviatt indicated that the USAID partnership with the Department of Youth will continue to ensure the continued development of the youths.