US launches project in Guyana to steer youths away from violence, crime

The United States Government on Tuesday launched its Youth Resilience Inclusion and Empowerment (Y-RIE) programme in Guyana, positioning its intent to guide youths into productive adults, 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 will also enhance coordination between social services and justice institutions, particularly around referral pathways, and promote partnerships to support community crime and violence prevention efforts.
Chief of Party of the Y-RIE programme, Phelps Feeley explained that they are tackling crime and violence from the perspective that it spreads like a communicable disease that passes from person to person if left untreated.
Guyana has been at the forefront of juvenile justice reform and taking on more rehabilitative approach to dealing with young people in the justice system, a reason for this partnership.
Feeley shared, “Y-RIE will continue to support Guyana in this critical and important journey, as well as work with the relevant Ministries and civil society organisations to provide programming for young people who are or have been part of the juvenile justice system. Y-RIE will continue to collaborate with Government agencies, private sector entities and non-governmental organisation to reach at its core objectives, including improving learning outcomes for youth.”
Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Adrienne Galanek also added that this brings hope for a better future for young people throughout the Region. The programme is funded by the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
“We have spoken with stakeholders across the country to identify a number of issues impacting young people. We have heard the challenges some youth face as they mature into adults. We have discussed how young people are influenced by their peers and how this impacts, for example, young man’s involvement in destructive groups. We have heard about the violence in schools and communities and in particular, the troubling state of violence against women and girls,” the Deputy Chief of Mission identified.
She pointed out that Guyana is at a crossroads in its development path. The United Nations population estimates show that more than half of the population is under the age of 35.
However, while most children attend primary school, learning outcomes are uneven and many adolescents do not finish secondary school. In 2021, unemployment rates stood at over 31 per cent.
“We seek to help them discover and uncover their talents and use their passions and skills to advance their ambitions and goals. Young people aspire to be productive and responsible members of their community. And together we can help them fulfil these goals and more.”

Recidivism
Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud emphasised that an important plague to mitigate is recidivism, which can be targeted through such intervention.
“The important thing is to let them know that support is there. Opportunities are there, so that they can not only extrapolate themselves in these situations, but they can have the opportunity to develop their inherent potential,” the Minister contended.
Citing the public health approach, it was outlined that violence spreads endemically, and evidence-based treatment must be responsive to the risks and protective factors of victims and perpetrators to interrupt cycles of trauma, crime, and violence.
Youth are at the centre of the activity’s work in the design, partnerships. implementation, evaluation, and learning.
The systems strengthening aspect will deal with preventing youth crime and violence by working on factors that impact a young person’s pathway toward or away from crime and violence.
For positive youth development (PYD), Y-RIE aims to build on youth potential and capacity, fostering an enabling environment for youth to develop their strengths and contribute to positive changes.
The Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC) Region struggles with high rates of interpersonal crime and violence, with violent crime rates among the highest in the world. Of the top 20 countries in the world with the highest murder rates, 17 are in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). (G12)