Some 160 migrant teenagers recently benefited from an after-school programme, which addressed issues such as self-esteem, self-worth, self-motivation, self-identity, bullying, hate speech, violence, racism, depression, anxiety, and culture shock. The initiative was funded by the Canadian Government, through project partner UNICEF and implemented by the Ministry of Education.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Education, its School Support Services Migrant Education Support Unit in collaboration with the Schools Welfare Unit, recently engaged them in a three-week “Gender–Responsive School Welfare Mentoring Programme for Teenage Migrant Students.” The after–school initiative, which ran from October 9 to October 26 was hosted at the Diamond Primary, Leonora Secondary and New Campbellville Secondary schools.
Coordinator of the Migrant Education Support Unit Rampattie Bisnauth said that over the three weeks, the children had the opportunity to learn new skills to make them more resilient and build their confidence. Each child received a certificate for completing the programme at a ceremony held at the Queen’s College auditorium on October 26, the release said.
Participating secondary schools wereLeonora, DeWillem, IPE, Friendship, Dolphin, Covent Garden, New Campbellville, Kingston, Freeburg and Queenstown, the release said. Meanwhile, the three venues had team leaders. Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer in Region Four 4 Akash Persaud led at Diamond, Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer in Region Three Bernice Zephyr was at Leonora Secondary and Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer in Georgetown Onika King was at the New Campbellville Secondary, it added.
According to the release, Senior Education Officer Renita Barnes, and Education Specialist Fiona Persaud restated both the Ministry of Education and UNICEF’s commitment for equitable and inclusive education for students regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or nationality in Guyana. The students were praised for their unwavering commitment to the programme and creativity. They were told that UNICEF remained committed to working with the Government of Guyana to ensure that Sustainable Development Goal 4 – quality education – was accessible and available to every child in Guyana.
It was noted that the after-school programme was phase two of an initiative which began with a “Big Sister Mentoring Programme” held during the August holidays which benefited approximately 100 teenagers.
