30 youth leaders to benefit from UNDP empowerment project

A 16-member steering committee team has been established to assist with the process of identifying participants for the collaborative Local Government and Regional Development Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project.
The project, aimed at addressing the challenges of inadequate youth participation in government, will be executed by the committee that comprises representatives of three ministries, (local government; culture, youth and sport; and finance), UNDP, the regional democratic councils of Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10, and Youth Challenge Guyana (which will represent civil society groups).

The group held its first official meeting last week Thursday in the boardroom of the Local Government Ministry for the project which is also expected to provide youths with the opportunity to prepare for leadership roles in their communities.
In attendance at the meeting were Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud, who has oversight for the project; and permanent secretaries Collin Croal and Alfred King of the Local Government and Culture, Youth and Sport ministries respectively, and UNDP Policy Advisor George Wachira. The latter three sit on the committee.
Minister Persaud praised the partnership forged with the UNDP, and noted that the ministry has benefited from a very good relationship with the agency, as the ministry has been able to garner yearly support from the agency for the execution of a number of programmes relating to empowerment and capacity building and the delivery of services that have brought joy to the lives of many.
The minister also expressed the ministry’s confidence in the steering committee’s ability to ensure the timely execution of all the objectives of the projects.
The youths will be trained in seven relevant skills with the use of social media and information communication technology platforms to facilitate interaction.
Wachira said that the UNDP’s involvement in the project is aimed at assisting the Guyana government to achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by ensuring youth participation in development.
Empowering of youths ensure their participation in and, boosts their understanding of decision making and, in so doing, guarantee meaningful contributions to the development of their communities and country.
Participants chosen have to be between the ages of 18 to 25 years and must already be involved in an organisation that addresses some pertinent development issues relating to their region. They must also be familiar with their country and be able to represent young people from all levels of society.