Guyana, China launch “Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award”

The Education Ministry and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Guyana-China Friendship Youth Leadership Development Award, where eligible students get an opportunity to win a whopping US$1000.
The leadership programme will take the form of a competition that will focus on three areas; a community-based project, critique of a work of art and participation in sport activities such as athletics, gymnastics, dance and swimming. This is according to the Administrator of the Unit of Allied Arts, Lorraine Barker-King.

Barker-King added that the competition is open to Grades Eight to 10 students who are currently at a secondary school in any of the 11 education districts.
“The objectives of this programme are to develop cognitive, emotional and civic skills among learners, display and exemplify leadership skills, and showcase the talents of learners. The staff of the Unit of Allied Arts has been assigned this task of executing the competition and we sincerely promise that this will be done with a standard that is normally exemplified by the Ministry of Education,” she said.
Students will be shortlisted based on participation in sports, academic performance, leadership qualities, mental qualities, self-control, sociability and social action and participation in clubs and societies.
Each winner from the 11 education districts will win US$1000.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that her Ministry is happy to partner with the People’s Republic of China on this initiative.

“Anything that could help us advance that process is always welcomed,” Minister Manickchand remarked. She said further that across Guyana there are many examples of students who try hard to do their best academically and being excellent citizens.
Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Chen Xilai related that his country is happy to assist the education sector in Guyana.
“We hope that this award will inspire the Guyanese students to have a dream and exemplify in their studies; grow up to be future leaders in various fields in Guyana and contribute to national development.”
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson said the award programme is significant at this time as it allows Guyanese students to remain engaged even during a pandemic.
He believes that a programme of this nature will give students the impetus to perform and allow them to see themselves differently and realise that their life should not be confined to academia.