Labour Ministry, USAID discuss partnership to empower, assist at-risk youths

The Labour Ministry and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are in discussion to fortify a partnership aimed at empowering youths, particularly those who are in at-risk conditions or environments.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton; Permanent Secretary Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas-Meerabux; Chief Recruitment and Manpower Officer Yolanda Grant; Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Richard Maughn; Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Natecia Garraway, and other officials joined USAID officials for a meeting this week. The meeting focused on USAID’s current and planned efforts, particularly its USAID Youth Resilience Inclusion and Empowerment (Y-RIE) Programme, as well as an analysis of approaches to improve youth resilience, inclusion, and empowerment.

General Development Specialist for USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Chloe Noble; Country Director Tiffany Daniels; Social Services Advisor Shaundell Shipley; Programme Manager Leota King and Programme Implementation Specialist Rondell Nedd were all members of the USAID/Y-RIE team.
Discussions were had about forming a partnership between the two entities to promote empowerment among at-risk youngsters by providing them with technical skills for employment and apprenticeship programmes given by BIT.
It also complements the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency’s services, such as its ‘job readiness’ programmes and counselling.
“With the goal of improving youth support and building their resilience to crime and violence, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) will be signed to formalise this cooperation and contribute to developing productive Guyanese citizens,” the Labour Ministry has indicated.
Less than one year ago, the United States Government launched its Y-RIE programme in Guyana, in an effort to guide youths into productive adulthood, away from a life of crime and violence.
Y-RIE is a youth-centred, systems-strengthening activity based on a public health approach to violence prevention and incorporates positive youth development approaches. It targets youths at risk between ages 10-29. Over a five-year period, the project will be implemented in four Caribbean countries, including Guyana.
The intention is to collaborate with Government to improve social services provided to youth who are at a higher risk of involvement in crime and violence. It also enhances coordination between social services and justice institutions, particularly around referral pathways, and promotes partnerships to support community crime and violence prevention efforts. (G12)