Youth Department engaging young people to identify needs

GINA, GUYANA, Friday, October 21, 2016

The Ministry of Education, Department of Youth, has commenced a youth empowerment process. This follows the adoption of the National Youth Policy by the National Assembly. The Department is consulting with leaders of registered youth groups to help identify their needs and areas for possible collaboration.

Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael, in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that the engagements will assist the department in creating opportunities for youths.

“We want to know who are the stakeholders that we should engage and very often it is better for us to be brought on to(a project) than for us to take a project to these young people,” Carmichael explained.

Carmichael said that information gathered at the consultations will not only help the youth department to create better programmes for young people but also, foster partnerships with the youth groups.

Youth leaders in North Georgetown have already been consulted. Carmichael explained that it was an interactive session that afforded the youth leaders the opportunity to share their challenges with the youth department.  “They would have also indicated, informed us of some of the projects where we can collaborate with them on, where the Ministry can assist or give a hand,” she added.

Carmichael said that the process will continue countrywide.

Officials at the Department of Youth are encouraging all youth groups to get registered with the department as this will afford them the opportunity to voice their concerns and have them addressed.

 

By: Isaiah Braithwaite