United States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt recently met with Volunteer Youth Corps Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Goldie Scott upon her return from the United States after participating in the prestigious embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP).
Scott, who is chief executive officer of the Volunteer Youth Corps Inc, shared her IVLP programme experience with the ambassador, and discussed how she intends to apply the insights gained from her experience to the benefit of her organisation and to Guyana, the U.S. embassy in Guyana said in a release.
She participated in the IVLP programme on the “Caribbean Basin Security Initiative – Engaging Underserved and At-Risk Youth,” from September 7 to September 28. Under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the U.S., CARICOM member nations, and The Dominican Republic are working together to help reduce the number of young people imprisoned in the juvenile justice system. The CBSI is also working with youth already being held in juvenile facilities by supporting their transition back into communities and toward the establishment of a productive life.
As the CEO of a local non-governmental organisation, which addresses the social and economic needs of children and youth, Scott was able to gain perspectives on methodologies used by community-based organisations and faith-based groups to intervene early before problem behaviours turn into delinquency and gang involvement.
She is presently coordinating a sub-agreement between the Volunteer Youth Corps Inc. and the Education Development Centre under the USAID/Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) project to deliver “Work Ready Now” training to at-risk youth in Region Four.
The IVLP is the flagship professional exchange programme of the Department of State, which annually brings to the U.S. approximately 5000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business, and other fields.
Among the thousands of distinguished individuals who have participated in the IVLP since its inception almost seven decades ago, are more than 290 current and former chiefs of state and heads of government; 2000 Cabinet-level ministers, and many, many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors.
