A new project that will cost US$150,000 is aiming at capacity building for the development of Guyana’s young people and will focus on training potential youth leaders.
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday signed an agreement for the commencement of the Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
The project is aimed at addressing inadequate youth participation in government and the persistent social changes that prevent them from fulfilling their right.
UNDP Resident Representative Khadija Musa is quoted in the release as saying that this is an opportune moment to begin the programme since youths are increasingly at risk of crime and violence due to unemployment.
GINA said the project will engage 30 potential youth leaders “who will be competitively selected by the UNDP, Ministry of Local Government and the RDCs of Regions 2,3,4,5,6 and 10.” GINA added that civil society groups and the Ministry of Culture will also take part in the selection process.
It is slated to commence at the conclusion of the Enhanced Public Trust Security and Inclusion programme which was also implemented by the Local Government Ministry.
The Project Unit will be located at the Ministry’s Kingston Office and will be manned by a project coordinator and project support staff. Also partnering in the venture are the Ministries of Finance and Culture, Youth and Sport.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud observed that the project is among many others aimed at enhancing the development of human resources across the regions. He expressed the hope that their empowerment would provide a multiplier effect which would encourage many others to benefit from the project, GINA concluded.
