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  • CYPCaribbean:
  • CYPCC, new Belize Government reaffirm strategic partnership

CYPCC Regional Director, Mr Henry Charles, at right, presents the PAYE and other CYPCC publications to the Honourable Marcel Cardona, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture of Belize. Looking on are Mr Dwight Tillett, CEO of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture and Ms Dianne Finnegan, Director of Youth For the Future (YFF).

CYPCC, new Belize Government reaffirm strategic partnership

9 October 2008

"The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture expressed support for the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE)."

The Government of Belize has reaffirmed its support for the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (CYPCC).

This was reported by Regional Director, Mr. Henry Charles who wrapped up a successful visit to Belize from September 22 to 27.

While in Belize, Mr. Charles updated the new government on the work of CYPCC and restated its commitment to support the repositioning and strengthening of the youth development initiatives of the member country.

The Regional Director met with the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Hon. Marcel Cardona; Minister of Education, Hon. Patrick Faber; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Youth, Mr.Dwight Tillett; and the Director of the Youth For the Future (YFF), Ms. Dianne Finnegan and staff, among others.

Meetings were also held with persons responsible for various youth projects, officials from the Violence Reduction Unit, the 4H Club; the Cadet Corps; the Yabra Community Policing Group; and the Conscious Youth Development Project. Charles also met the CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the CEO and Director of the Ministry of Public Service; the University of Belize; Galen University; and the Resident Tutor from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Extra Mural Department.

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture expressed support for the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE) and identified it as an excellent tool for guiding the country's youth development strategy.

At the Ministry of Youth, Mr. Charles, the CEO and the Director of Youth reviewed the major youth development challenges in Belize and looked at current initiatives that the country has undertaken to address them.

Discussions also focused on CYPCC providing technical assistance for the development of a National Youth Development Strategy and other projects.

Mr. Charles updated the Universities on the work done so far to professionalize youth work in the Caribbean and the development of the related competency standards.

The University of Belize, the Galen University and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Extra Mural Department have agreed to participate in CYP's youth development training courses while the Public Service Ministry will be reviewing the status of persons who are in possession of the CYP Diploma in Youth Development Work with a view to ensuring upward mobility in the Public Service.

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