Over 100 indigenous youths participate in exchange programme
The Department of Social Cohesion observed Monday’s International Youth Day 2019 with the extension of the Inter-village Social Cohesion Exchange Programme.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), young people representing 15 Indigenous communities congregated at Kato Secondary School for the initiation of the first programme of its kind in Region 8, and the third such nationally.
Marisa Albert, one of the young participants from Chenapau said, “I would like return and do new things for my village because …. I would like to encourage others to get involved in some of these things that I would have learnt and improve themselves.”
Doris Francisco from Kurukabaru plans to “learn new things so when I return home, I can share it with my people”, DPI said.
Kato resident, Kemal Robinson said among the things he hopes to take away from the exchange program are “… discipline, cooperation and how to interact with other young people.”
Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, in her feature address, urged the 106 youth participants to play their role in the country’s development.
“I want to encourage you to make the full use of the eight days here; intermingling with each other, sharing ideas, sharing your dreams, sharing your visions and you will be an active participant in developing North Pakaraima, Potaro-Siparuni Region and your country as a whole,” said Minister Hastings-Williams.
Spearheading the programme was Coordinator(ag) within the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Natasha SinghLewis.
The Coalition Government has invested approximately $19M in the exchange programme being hosted in Kato, Region 8, DPI said. This exercise seeks to provide Indigenous youth with the skills needed to advance their communities.