CANI ushers in World Youth Day with conference

As Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing International Youth Day today, the Come Alive Network Inc (CANI) on Saturday held its sixth annual conference at the Promenade Gardens, Middle and Waterloo Streets, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, for youths to usher in the special day.
Several youth-based organisations attended the event, along with businesses and excited young persons who seized the opportunity to sign up for jobs with Teleperformance on the spot.
University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith along with British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn were also there to mingle with youths of all ages.
Guyana Times caught up with a few persons who exhibited their projects and organisations during a mini exhibition at the Gardens.
Vice President of the Enterprise Youth Development Group (EYDG) said their focus is to raise awareness as to how they can build and make their community better, through youths. He said, “Currently we are spearheading a mental health awareness project. When most persons hear mental health they think the person is crazy. We are there to let them know that it’s actually stress and depression which comes into play and affects us mentally.”
Founder and President of Sustainable Youth Network Guyana, Travis Bruce said the fairly new organisation seeks to be the local hub in promoting sustainable development goals. “I believe in Guyana the sustainable development goals can do so much more and with young people we decided to come together with our same interests and passion to push for the goal so by 2030 we can have a better life for Guyanese.”
A young developer, Shemar Spencer, officially launched his new application (APP), Swopp at the “Just Youth It” conference.
This is the fifth year that the CANI has hosted the “Just Youth It” conference, although they were founded in 2012. Annually the network has been involved in distributing footwear, back packs and stationary supplies to children within villages across the country.
Founder and Executive Director of CANI, Ryan Hoppie informed that hundreds of school supplies will be donated this year with the help of over 70 volunteers.
Conversations on safe spaces were discussed during the forum, in keeping with this year’s World Youth Day theme, with the intent of building and developing same.
Hoppie told Guyana Times, “Come Alive (Network Inc) has created a platform for young people to network with each other, network with the Private Sector and Government as well as fellow peers to be able to create new products”.
He said the conference is aimed at giving youths a ‘voice’ and ‘platform’ through the awakening of true potential.
World Youth Day is being held this year under the theme ‘Safe spaces for youths’.