63 graduate from YOUthEngage592 Leadership Programme in Region 5

Fifty-three students and 10 teachers form the latest cohort to graduate from the Guyana Centre for Civic Engagement (GyCCE) YOUthEngage592 Leadership Training Programme in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The 63 graduated on Monday from the United States (US) Embassy-funded three -month programme, which marked another milestone for GyCCE’s ongoing mission to nurture a new generation of civic-minded youth leaders across Guyana.
Seven secondary schools: Novar, Bush Lot, Rosignol, Number 8, Belladrum, Woodley Park, and Fort Wellington, participated in the training that focused on bringing together secondary students and teachers in a spirit of achievement and civic purpose.
In a release, the GyCCE said that over the three months, participants engaged in comprehensive sessions covering civic engagement, elections and voting education, ethical leadership, conflict resolution, volunteerism, and project planning.
As part of the programme, each participant also received a Civic Engagement Kit, which included a soft copy of the Constitution of Guyana, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to better understand and fulfil their civic responsibilities.
The programme was facilitated by a passionate team led by GyCCE Director Deodat Persaud, Deputy Director Nareema Ali, and Programme Coordinators Sherry Mangru and Cholaram Doodnauth.
In delivering the feature address at the graduation exercise, Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG), Feroze Khan, emphasised that there is no need to migrate to the capital city to make an impact but in can be done within region Five.
“Leadership is not a destination, it is a lifelong journey. This YOUthEngage592 badge is not the end – it is the beginning. A symbol that says: I am ready to serve. I am ready to lead. I am ready to build a better West Berbice, and a stronger Guyana… You don’t need to move to Georgetown to make an impact. You don’t need to be a politician to lead change; you need heart, you need purpose and you need to remember what you have learned over the last three months. Leadership begins with showing up and never giving up,” he advised.
GyCCE Director and Founder, Deodat Persaud, charged graduates to continue their journey of active leadership:
“Over the past three months, you have not only learned about leadership, you have lived it. You have shown up, spoken up and stepped up. And in doing so, you have begun a transformation; not just of yourselves, but of your communities,” Persaud said, as he reminded those who participated that leadership does not come with a title or a podium.
“Sometimes, it looks like standing up for what’s right when no one else will. Sometimes, it is listening deeply, serving humbly, and doing the difficult work of building bridges in divided spaces.”
Persaud also welcomed the recent call by Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo for Civic Engagement to be taught in schools, affirming the importance of preparing youth to lead change from an early age.
As part of the programme’s capstone, each school team completed a community impact project. The Best Project Awards went to: Rosignol Secondary School, for the rehabilitation of a volleyball court, and Woodley Park Secondary School, for the construction of an incinerator to improve school sanitation and environmental care.
The programme will now move to Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) as GyCCE deepens its commitment to civic leadership development across Guyana.