CYPCC broadens its base in the Americas

The Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (CYPCC) has sought to further solidify its role as one of the premiere youth development agencies in the Americas with its recent participation in the Regional Meeting on Youth Networks and Policies held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from October 15 to 19.

CYPCC was represented by Regional Director Mr Henry Charles who took the opportunity to present an overview of the youth development landscape in the English Speaking Caribbean and outlined programmes and activities of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre in supporting member governments.

The Regional Director highlighted the importance of guiding tools such as National Youth Policies, Youth Mainstreaming initiatives and the need for the revitalization of the Regional Youth Movement.

Mr. Charles also took the opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Office for Drug Control, the Latin American and Caribbean Office of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Latin American Centre on Youth.

The principal objectives of the five-day conference were to reinforce and consolidate youth participation; strengthen the capacities of young people in the field of public youth policies; offer the participants the opportunity to exchange opinions with decision-makers and experts from the region; promote and reinforce intercultural dialogue in the Americas using the Americas Youth Network as a mechanism to achieve this; and open a space to publicise and articulate the work of the different organisations that work on youth issues in the region.

The event was also used as a forum to launch the Americas Youth Network and a Charter signed by more than 70 delegates drawn from about 35 countries of the Americas. The Americas Youth Network is intended to be an instrument to follow-up and articulate the recommendations of Youth Fora and youth-related activities in the region.

Among the main sponsors were UNESCO's Section for Youth, Sport and Physical Education and the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic (UNA-DR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and the Permanent Delegation to UNESCO of the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Republic National Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO's Montevideo Field Office (SHS).