Over a thousand children from various youth clubs in the different police divisions came out in support of the inaugural ‘career day’ for police youth groups at the Police Sports Ground on Saturday.
Held under the theme, “Transforming the Mind and Developing the Nation through Motivation and Inspiration,” the event is one of a series listed on the police youth group calendar. Around 1200 children from 27 police youth groups participated in the event.
According to Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken, the aim of the career day initiative is to present to the youth a chance to evaluate varying career paths as well as an opportunity to interact with other youth from as far as Linden and Essequibo.
The participants also got an opportunity to interact with members of the corporate sector and other entrepreneurs.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child and with the wide cross-section of mentorship that you see here, we are hoping that it molds them into the young leaders we want for tomorrow.
This by itself can be a reservoir for recruitment because as it is, they can decide now based on what they see here,” Hicken related.
He further noted that the main objectives of the police youth groups are centred on the moulding and development of the children, building public trust and by extension, reducing crime.
Also present at the event were Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, both of whom lauded the organisers for pulling off the event.
In his remarks, Persaud said the ‘career day’ initiative presented several opportunities. For the children, many of whom are completing secondary education and may be entering the labour force, they could seize the opportunity to explore the diversity of the work environment.
For the exhibitors, they had a chance to recruit labour while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had the opportunity to display its transformation over the years from a para-military organisation into a service oriented and social problem solving police service. Meanwhile, Roopnaraine said many of the children attending the career fair were at an important stage of their lives, where decisions will influence the kind of person they become.
He urged that they pay close attention to their parents, teachers and those who give them guidance, in order that they may be able to make a contribution towards building Guyana.
The career day was well received by the young participants as some booths like that of the GPF and Guyana Fire Service (GFS) attracted small groups of teens and preteens who seemed fascinated by the presentations made by the officers stationed at the booths. According to some of the youngsters who spoke with Stabroek News, the event provided them with an opportunity to “figure out” which career path better suits them. Others expressed appreciation for the information on the different career paths being made available to them.
Apart from the GPF, 18 other agencies established booths at the career fair allowing personnel to interact with the youths with the aim of guiding them towards available career opportunities. These included the Guyana Defence Force, the GFS, the Ministries of Education, Health, and Agriculture, the Guyana School of Agriculture, the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, the Guyana Rice Development Board, University of Guyana Health Sciences Department, E R Burrowes School of Art, Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association, Museum of African Heritage, Modfin Beauty School, the National Communications Network, the President Youth Award Republic of Guyana, S&S Fruit Services, and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute.
Hicken said the GPF’s youth group started off their calendar of events with their participation in the annual children’s Mashramani competition where they placed fourth. The youth groups have also been invited to partake in the Independence Day float parade for the celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee next month.
Hicken said there are a series of other activities planned for the remainder of the year aimed at keeping the children positively engaged throughout the year. However, when there is no scheduled activity on the calendar, the youth are engaged in vocational and life skills training as well as mentoring on Saturdays.
