The President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme awarded 1,200 participants at the gold, silver and bronze levels at its 10th anniversary celebration hosted at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday last.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the ceremony was held under the theme ‘Empowering youth through voluntary, self-development activities.’ Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Chinese Ambassador Zheng Jungao; Minister of Youth Dr Frank Anthony, PYARG Executive Officer Alfred King and Director of Youth Carl Brandon attended the function.
GINA said the programme started on September 23 with an essay competition in Region Two and will close tomorrow with an edutainment workshop and Day of Sports at Hopetown in Region Five. The PYARG hosted several activities such an exhibition and edutainment concert at its Secretariat in Georgetown, an interfaith service at the Umana Yana, an impromptu speech competition at Anna Regina, Region Two, a fun day/community service in Region One and a tea party and fashion show in honour of its anniversary.
During the presentation ceremony, participants and unit leaders from across the regions were awarded for “outstanding and most developed performances.” In his address, the Prime minister commended the King and other stakeholders for supporting the programme over the years. He also congratulated the youths who have moved from one level of the programme to the highest level for their commitment. “This evening we had some 600 persons in those three categories and in terms of conversion and perseverance our young people are doing well compared with others around the world,” Hinds said. He said the 15-29 age range is the most important group in the society as they are the “citizens of tomorrow.” In this regard, Hinds urged the participants to recognise the importance of unity, and to promote it, particularly in a country with six races.
According to GINA, the PYARG programme is active in eight regions. In the last 10 years, 4,449 medals have been distributed: 3,037 bronze, 1,044 silver and 368 gold. The programme is one of the largest in the Caribbean and has been recognised as a symbol of growth and achievement. However, despite these successes, the youth minister said, “We have to work to expand the existing programme in all the regions.”
Anthony noted that the Shell Beach turtle conservation project remains one of the highlights of the programme and focus should be placed on preserving the country’s rainforests which President Bharrat Jagdeo has been advocating on the world forum.
Anthony also lauded the PYARG as the pioneering institution supporting government’s efforts in HIV education. The group was also a key stakeholder in the Caribbean Edutainment Conference at the Carifesta Youth Village during celebrations for Carifesta X. Also, about 250 PYARG volunteers participated in various activities at the festival.
Meanwhile, King was happy to report that from 11 participants attached to the National Communications Network five are now employed there. He said too Guyana’s programme is recognised as the fifth in the world with high conversion rates from bronze, silver and gold awards. “In the Caribbean, we are considered to be the model awards programme, meaning that the spread of activities that we are involved in, in keeping with the needs of the young people there is no match.”
GINA said the PYARG programme was adopted from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme introduced in Britain in 1956. It was launched in Guyana in 1998.
