Helping Young People in the Caribbean Realise Their Potential
29 September 2005
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| Henry Charles, Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Caribbean Centre. |
Forty-seven-year-old Mr Charles took office at the CYP Caribbean Centre, based in Georgetown, Guyana, in September 2005 following a career in youth work and social development. He was previously working as the general manager for the National Conservation Authority of St Lucia before joining the CYP.
Topping Mr Charles' agenda is the provision of assistance to Caribbean youth to explore their potential. He is particularly concerned about vulnerable young people who have been exposed to violence and unhealthy lifestyles.
"There is a need to get this group of young people into the mainstream of society. Marginalised youth, especially those who had dropped out of primary and secondary schools, are a vulnerable group of people. More attention must be paid to assist them, to build up their self-esteem and give them hope for the future," said Mr Charles in an interview with the Commonwealth News and Information Service on 28 September 2005 during a week-long visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK.
Mr Charles had been previously involved in programmes organised by the Government of St Lucia to provide short-term employment to young people and marginalised persons.
"Existing systems and programmes should be devised and structured to meet the needs of young people to avoid any alienation to society. We need to work with them on issues such as human rights so that they will understand that a rights-based approach is an integral part of sustainable development," said Mr Charles.
The new Regional Director added that more effort will be placed into promoting the Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living programme so that it can play a stronger role in public education on HIV/AIDS. He said youth enterprise development will also be intensified to deal with the issue of unemployed young people.
"Most Commonwealth Caribbean countries are members of the Caribbean Community, which has launched the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. The Youth Enterprise Development programme will provide credit facilities and expose young entrepreneurs to improved quality and standards in the development of business enterprises and ventures. We aim to open up new opportunities for young people in a regional market," Mr Charles emphasised.
He stated that greater impetus will be given to the professionalisation of youth work through adequate training and certification, to maintain standards and techniques through closer collaboration with the University of the West Indies and the University of Guyana, as well as other institutions and community colleges.
"Youth participation in national development is important. So too is their social and political consciousness. We need to nurture the young people so that they, in turn, can contribute meaningfully to their societies."
CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 254, 28 September 2005
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