In an effort to amplify the voices of the Guyanese youth, the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) entered the second part of its My Voice Matters campaign.
The campaign is based on social-media and GNYC stated in a release that the platform was an ideal one for today’s generation. GNYC deemed social media, “the largest platform for providing young people with a convenient advocacy tool to express their views.” Further, GNYC said that it seeks “to utilize the scope and range that social media affords us to amplify youth issues”.
For phase two, Guyanese under the age of 35 are encouraged to write the words “The Guyana I want is…” on a plain surface followed by their desire for our country. Participants are then to take photos of themselves while showcasing their responses.
The responses, GNYC said, could be anything. GNYC further suggested that participants get creative.
“There should be absolutely no censorship of the messages shared in this campaign as the expressions are completely yours.
Young people should feel free to express our thoughts on our country as we think them and our aspirations as we dream them.” GNYC further said, “It is our hope that this format will encourage more young people to say what they feel without fear of being labelled as partisan.”
The campaign will see the presentation of these photos on the GNYC Facebook page and, for those who do not feel a photo is enough, a lengthy commentary can be posted along with the photos.
In the first part of the campaign, GNYC created a video of youth across the city sharing their hopes for the country. The video featured a diverse range of persons from varying backgrounds.
“People underestimate youths and think that their opinions don’t matter but in reality youths are change agents,” one youth said in the video before continuing, “So if policy makers and those in authority can just take a minute and listen to what they [the youths] have to say, they’d be surprised by the amount of information youths are walking around with….”
Another said, “The youth of Guyana, we comprise over 50% of Guyana’s population so, naturally, if we are one of the biggest population size in Guyana as compared to the adults, of course our voices have to be heard.”
