USAID-funded Youth ALLIES programme offers virtual leadership training for 1st time

Selected Guyanese youth interested in building their leadership skills and learning about democracy and the Government will soon benefit from virtual training sessions under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Youth ALLIES programme.
Last year, USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC) collaborated with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Guyana team to launch the Youth Advocacy, Linkages, Leadership in Elections and Society (Youth ALLIES) Programme.
This programme aims to empower young people across the country with the skills and knowledge they need to strengthen their participation in problem-solving at the community level and increase their participation in political life.
Thus far, there have been about ten training sessions held across Guyana on different aspects of leadership and civic education, allowing participants to learn about teamwork, public speaking, self-confidence, citizen rights and responsibilities, problem-solving, personal action planning, and Government.
Come July, Guyanese youths have yet another opportunity to partake in these sessions, this time virtually, thereby catering for those unable to join in person.
This six-week programme, open to persons between the ages of 18 and 29, will see participants meeting once a week for three hours on Zoom. This interactive programme will take the form of group work, games, presentations, trivia and personal reflections.
IFES Guyana Country Director Meredith Applegate noted that these sessions will be facilitated by a diverse group of non-partisan youth leaders in Guyana who have been trained to hold engaging and educational sessions.
“Youth in Guyana have such great ideas, potential, and passion for their communities. We hope that training like this allows young people the opportunity to build skills that will make them better able to accomplish their plans, be role models, and be positive influences for their communities,” Applegate said.
As trained Youth ALLIES, participants will then be given the opportunity to apply for funding through a Community Action Initiative to tackle specific issues within their communities.
While the deadline for applications for these upcoming sessions closed on Friday, Applegate explained that IFES Guyana remains interested in youths who want to partake in future training and for those who reach out, the organisation keeps a list to notify them of the next available opportunity.
The Youth ALLIES programme had most recently engaged youths ahead of the Local Government Elections (LGE) in a voter education programme.
In anticipation of the elections held on June 12, the voter education programme engaged young Guyanese for three months in educational games, mock ballot exercises and raffle draws.