Ministry of Culture, Youth
& Sport
71-72 .Main Street, South Cummingsburg,
Georgetown, Guyana.
Tel: 592-227-7860; 592-226-3738; 592-226-3665
Fax: 592-225-5067
International Youth Day- August 12
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) endorsed
in 1999, the recommendations. made by the World Conference of
Ministers Responsible for Youth that August 12, be declared International
Youth Day. As a means of promoting increased awareness it recommended
also, that member states organize public information activities
at all levels, especially among youth, to support the Day.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport approached
Cabinet in October 2000 for Guyana to officially support this
decision and for this day to be observed in Guyana as well as
activities dedicated to youth during the month of August.
In 2001,the MCYS carried out a survey amongst
young people especially male youth to assess their attitudes to
life, themselves and their future. The survey reached over 700
youths in an 10 regions of Guyana through 16 seminars on training
opportunities for youth both in and out school. As a result of
this, programme, the MCYS continued this: outreach on career guidance
and training opportunities in Y2002 and is in the process of publishing
an info-guide for youth to assist them in making career choices
whether they have completed school or not.
In 2002, the MCYS's theme " What about me?
I can make a difference" focused on young people sharing
their experiences with their peers on interesting initiatives
they were taking at the community level or further afield in the
campaign against HIV/AIDS and drug awareness, or counselling youth
who were victims of domestic violence, or making people more environmentally
consciousness, or organizing a sport programme.
This activity allowed young people to learn from
each other what they were doing to make a difference and this
generated a very exciting and energetic Interchange. This was
replicated in two other Regions.
For this year's IYD, the MCYS will be holding
a National Youth Forum on Economic Development Phase 1,under the
theme of "Let's talk-Youth and Business".
This activity will be held on Monday August 18th,
at Carifesta Sports Complex starting at 9am. The Forum will take
the form of a Roundtable discussion between youth representatives
from a broad cross-section of ng0s and the 10 regions and leaders
in business and entrepreneurship. The Forum will attempt to introduce
youth between the ages of 18 to 25 years to challenges of creating
economic activity and how to prepare them elves for the challenges
of doing so as well as sensitize members of the private sector
to the needs and views of young people.
On this International Youth Day, the Ministry of Culture, Youth
and Sport invites young people to examine the exciting yet challenging
world they are a part of and to create their own initiatives to
make it a better place.
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Tuesday
August 12, 2003