Dear Editor,
Over the past years young people in our country have been told that they are either not responsible enough, not politically involved enough or not ready enough to take on many challenges in our community and country. Those who defend this position often fail to mention that these young people are often not being prepared enough, encouraged enough or given space enough to demonstrate their skills and expose their knowledge.
As we embark on our activities in this new year let us be conscious of the fact that there is need for preparing, grooming, and encouraging our young people to take ownership of their country and to venture out in assuming leadership roles in various sectors in our society. Let us be mindful that that cliché, ‘Youths are the leaders of tomorrow,’ can only become a reality if we aid in the preparation of these very young people, in whom we must express unreserved confidence. My own experience of working and interacting with young people has always been an inspiring and learning one. I have learned that one of the greatest motivating factors to get people to work is to let them know you trust and believe in them. There are two experiences which I will always reflect on as I interact with young people; the first was in 2006 while on the PNCR election campaign when a number of young people braved all sorts of harsh criticism and weather conditions to roll up their sleeves and pitch in to work to secure a PNCR victory. It was on a trip to the Corentyne that I asked two young men to be responsible for the sale of the party’s New Nation papers. We had some 3000 papers to sell and they were identified to account for the sale. These boys, Orin and Devon, were not accountants by any means, but I have to admit that they did a fabulous job not only in ensuring that their peers were involved in selling all the papers before we left the Corentyne, but that every dime was accounted for. The excitement that they were able to achieve their objective was obvious as they thanked their peers and treated each of them with a mint for doing a good job. They had also excited enough youngsters on the Corentyne and New Amsterdam to get involved in the campaign locally.
The second experience I wish to refer to is a recent show of serious leadership by a group of President’s College students who were able, within 24 hours, to pull off a successful ‘congratulations’ reception for the fifth form students who were successful at the 2010 CSEC examination. With the school gaining a 98% pass rate at the examinations and without much acknowledgement of the students by the Minister of Education and government, there was a feeling of neglect on the part of the students and those who helped to make their success possible. Even though the school took the number one spot in the country, its success was apparently played down.
But it took three students and the co-operation of their peers to ensure that their achievements and the efforts of their teachers and parents did not go unnoticed. They ensured that if the government failed to acknowledge them, somebody recognized their success. As a consequence, a highly successful ceremony was held in their honour by the PNCR and its leader, where certificates, awards and tokens were given to each student.
Though most of the college students reside mainly in the counties of Essequibo and Demerara, as well as in the interior, it was amazing how they worked overnight to ensure that their peers were aware of the planned PNCR celebrations. Their constant texting and calling me to advise on their programme and their progress, demonstrated to me the discipline and commitment of these teenagers, not yet in the world of work.
Young people over the years have said to me that we have not yet seen the best of Guyana’s leadership; if only we nurture it well I am confident that we will be the country in the hemisphere which will be admired for our leadership.
I would urge our young people to get involved in activities in their communities, and to volunteer their time, effort and talent. The Americans remind us that one of the greatest strengths of any community is the willingness of its members to volunteer their time and effort to help others. I am reminded that volunteerism was also a part of the Guyanese psyche through that old PNCR concept of ‘self help.’ It’s time again to inject that self help or volunteerism ingredient into our everyday life. It might be through these very voluntary activities that some of us will be able to demonstrate our strong leadership skills and talents. Let us unearth that spirit of volunteerism, Can we do it? Yes we can!
‘Yes we can’ was an old PNC slogan. So let us co-operate for Guyana. Let the voice of the youth dictate the direction of 2011. To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail. Let’s work to prepare our young.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
