As Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing the International Year of the Youth, local authorities say they are working to ensure issues affecting this important population group are significantly addressed. Youth Minister Dr Frank Anthony has said that since this year has been so designated by the United Nations, several activities have been held, all aimed at engaging the country’s young people in a meaningful way.
“We had several camps last year, and we also had training programmes … this is going to continue,” the minister pointed out. According to him, a training programme for camp leaders is currently ongoing at Madewini as part of the agenda for the year-long activity.
Dr Frank Anthony
“This is a very important year,” Dr. Anthony declared. “We want more young people to be involved, and focus a lot on youth-related issues and how we could deal with them.”
The youth minister made reference to Guyana’s recent involvement in the launch of a UNICEF report highlighting the many issues facing young people globally. “In Guyana, we have started to take concrete action to ensure our young people do not have the same problems,” he added.
Guyana is currently revising its National Youth Policy to ensure that the needs of this group are adequately addressed. The policy will also outline plans to ensure greater participation of youths in national issues.
Meanwhile, a group of seventeen (17) youth leaders, advocates, volunteers and academics has been meeting over the last month to discuss Guyana’s observance of International Year of Youth. They claim that nothing has been planned by the government or civil society to observe the United Nations-designated year.
As such, the group has developed a strategic plan which it is proposing to guide the observance of the year, in collaboration with youth organizations, government and other organizations that work directly with youth in Guyana.
They are also seeking funding and assistance from government, private sector agencies, international organizations, and civil society groups to implement the programme of activities.
The group has so far launched a Facebook page — “International Year of youth (Guyana)” — which allows young people in Guyana and the diaspora to have discussions on what they can and will do in observance of the year. The page has resulted in formation of local and regional groups in Berbice, Essequibo, and Demerara (Annandale) to celebrate the year. It is expected that other groups will emerge as word spreads about the International Year of Youth.
The group of youngsters also wants a hearing with the government, International organizations and civil society to discuss how the government intends to observe the year, and to adopt the existing group as the national committee, thereby adopting its strategic plan.
The IYY-Guyana team has said that the overarching goal of all the activities is to “lay the foundation for sustained youth mainstreaming, participation and development through the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth and a much-needed National Youth Policy.”
They said their intention is to register all activities on the official UN Calendar of Global Events in celebration of the IYY 2010/2011, and they are pushing for dialogue on a National Youth Policy; formation of National Youth Council/Commission; establishment of the Youth Arm of the United Nations Association of Guyana; UN Youth and Students Association Adopt-A-Community Empowerment project (Lodge, Georgetown) Youth Expo – 24th June – 3rd July and Guyana Youth Day 24th June.
Some of the days for which activities will be planned by the IYY-Guyana Team: are: World Wear Odd Socks Day; World Theatre Day; World Health Day; World Dance Day; International Day of Families; World Day of Cultural Diversity; and International Youth Day.
In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/134 proclaiming the Year of Youth Day, thereby signifying the importance the international community places on integrating youth related issues into global, regional, and national development agendas. Under the theme “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”, the year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights, and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions, and civilizations.
According to the UN, the world is facing many often overlapping crises, including financial, security, environmental, and other socio-economic challenges hindering the achievement of the internationally-agreed development goals. As such, the international body believes that investing in and partnering with youth is key to addressing these challenges in a sustainable manner.
“Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making at local, national and global levels,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
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