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Young Caribbeans Help Reconstruction Efforts In Grenada

24 February 2005

CYP Volunteers
CYP is working with the Government of Grenada to assist in its efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Ivan.
Eighteen young Caribbean citizens from Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Anguilla have been deployed to Grenada to help build 24 new houses under an initiative of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (CYPCC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat. This project -- the Commonwealth Youth Volunteer Corps -- was launched by the CYPCC in St George's, the capital of Grenada, on 15 February 2005 to support the Government's efforts to rebuild the country after it was ravaged by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. It is the first rebuilding project carried out directly with the Government of Grenada in collaboration with its Department of Youth Development. Other rebuilding efforts have been channelled through non-governmental organisations and international aid agencies.

The Commonwealth Youth Volunteer Corps comprises young people below 30 years of age who will work as masons, carpenters, painters, steel benders, plumbers and electricians. They were presented with a set of tools and protective gear to execute their tasks.

Armstrong Alexis, the Regional Director of the CYPCC noted the importance of young people participating in national development. He stated: "This project serves as an example of how Caribbean integration can be fostered in times of need."

Dr Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Grenada's Minister of Communications, Works and Transport, thanked the Secretariat for the post-hurricane assistance and said she looked forward to working closely with the young volunteers.

Ithamar Charles, a volunteer from St Vincent and the Grenadines, commented that it was an opportunity for him and other young people to not only play a role in the reconstruction of Grenada, but to see for themselves the situation in the country. He said: "We will gain from this experience of coming to Grenada and helping in the rebuilding efforts."


CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 223  23 February 2005

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