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Guyana launches National Youth Corps… 500 young people to begin training in April
“This country needs youths more than ever. Our economy is about to experience high levels of economic growth in the advent of petroleum production next year. The development of a diversified economy will expand opportunities and generate increased employment. It will demand, however, more skilled individuals.”
President David Granger delivered this charge at the launch of the National Youth Corps at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway.
With the commencement of the Youth Corps, 1,000 young people from across the country will now be provided with the opportunity to empower themselves.
The young people between the ages of 16 and 35 were drawn from various training programmes and initiatives under the government such as the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS), Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) and the Youth Innovative Project of Guyana (YIPoG) among others.
Permanent Secretary to the Department of Social Cohesion, Melissa Tucker, Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenridge, President David Granger, Minster of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton and Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Alfred King with a batch of young people from the National Youth Corps.
They will begin training in April in various programmes that will see them either becoming employable or establishing their own businesses.
In his address, President Granger described the four pillars of the corps as education, equality, empowerment and employment. Education, he noted, is the foundation of achievement and a country will fail if its young people are not developed.
The Youth Corps, the Head of State said, will provide skills training for young people in every sector whilst equipping them with the knowledge and attitude to become productive citizens. They will be able to provide not only for themselves but also their families while at the same time enhancing national and community development.
The launch of the National Youth Corps is one of many training opportunities provided by the government to empower young people and foster entrepreneurs.
The launch was also attended by Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry; Ministers of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Valerie Garrido-Lowe; Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally; and Ministers of Finance, Winston Jordan and Jaipaul Sharma, all of whom lauded the initiative.
The National Youth Corps was first launched on January 1, 1968. It was aimed at addressing the challenges young people faced, among them such as poverty and lack of vocational education.
The corps lasted for seven years and was deemed a massive success having instructed 1200 persons in agricultural and industrial skills. (Isaiah Braithwaite).
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