United Nations Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa has lauded the Blue CAPS initiative for the steps taken to get youths involved in decision making in Guyana.
“I would say hats off to Blue Caps and we look forward to you doing more,” Musa said at the closing ceremony of the Blue CAPS’ Building Commu-nities through Leadership Training and Service (BCLTS) closing ceremony on Monday.
Musa also noted that the UN will be hosting a youth forum in October, which will allow youths across Guyana to discuss their views with politicians. “In the youth forum, youths of Guyana will be able to voice their concern and ask questions to the leaders of all the political parties,” Musa said.
She added that if the political parties don’t go to the youths to hear their voices, the UN will bring the youths to the political party members so they can tell them what they want and what role they want to take in decision making. “Youths should be able to voice their concerns,” Musa firmly stated.
Meanwhile, Clinton Urling, founder of Blue Caps said the not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) exists to develop and train leaders, formulate and advocate public policy and to undertake community service projects.
Graduates from the BCLTS programme were presented with certificates for their participation in the programme.
During this programme, members from various youth groups visited the Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens and East Ruimveldt neighbourhoods and a survey was done of over 200 households to find out the issues residents in those areas faced, according to Urling.
Urling further stated that plans of action were articulated to address the issues residents of those communities faced. In addition, Urling said, Blue CAPS intends to collaborate with the Impact Albouystown project and the Albouys-town residents in the coming weeks.
In addition, BCLTS training is planned for the Berbice/Corentyne area in the near future.