Youth Week 2019: Youth unemployment, mental health to take center stage
─ activities being held countrywide
─ National Youth Week 2019 to be observed under the theme ‘Inspire and Build Resilient Youth’
─ to commence with rally in Reg. 6
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Youth unemployment and mental health among young people will take center stage at National Youth Week 2019. This was disclosed during a press conference held, on Wednesday, to give an update on the activities to kick off on May 18 through May 25.
Under the theme ‘Inspire and Build Resilient Youth’, National Youth Week 2019 will commence with a rally in Region 6 focusing on youth mental health and wellbeing. The rally will commence on Philadelphia Main Street in Region 6 and conclude at the region’s state house. The rally will be followed by an exhibition and a concert that will also see young people from the new Amsterdam prison participating.
“The whole concept of the rally, exhibition and concert is to bring awareness, of mental health. Not just that it is an issue, and it is being covered,” explained Ewin Enmore, Planning Committee Member of the Department of Youth.
The idea to have young people from the New Amsterdam Prison involved in the cultural activities is to “show young people that not because you might be institutionalised, does not mean you cannot show positive aspects in society,” he added.
A round table discussion on youth unemployment will be held on May 21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Senior Research and Planning Officer, Adeti De Jesus said young people will be allowed to make presentations, highlighting some of the challenges they face when seeking employment.
“We will have representatives from the public service commission, private sector commission and the central recruitment and manpower agency. They will provide information to the young people present as it relates to the opportunities available at those entities and the young people will be able to ask questions, seek clarification and make recommendations,” she stated.
This will be followed by an expo and cultural presentation on youth, scheduled for May 23, a community project organised in Region 10 and conclude with a community outreach in the Agricola community on May 25. The outreach is also geared toward targeting youth unemployment and mental health issues among young people.
Project Manager Germaine Watson said, “the aim is to bring young people in contact with agencies who are doing recruitment with regards to employment, agencies who are providing training for young persons and the agencies both private and public, that are responsible for providing health services.”
Aside from the major activities, smaller events will be held throughout the country, giving young people a chance to sound their voices. The hosting of National Youth Week 2019 signals the government’s focus on the development of its youth population.
Isaiah Braithwaite
Images: Giovanni Gajie.