Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) is making significant strides in Baramita, Region One as it continues its initiative to transform and mould the lives of youths so that they are enabled to be productive members of society.
YCG is no stranger to this kind of youth developmental initiative. It has been on the frontline since 1991, and now, through the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU)’s Spotlight Initiative, YCG continues to fulfil its quest to provide: life-skills training, eradicate substance abuse and violence against women and girls, while at the same time, motivating youngsters to become better versions of themselves.
YCG is led by an exuberant Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson, who has reported to the Guyana Standard, some of the strides being made in the Region One community.
He said that the organisation is working along with community leaders, teachers, residents and sports coaches to deliver its mandate. He said that the response from the community has been remarkable as over 100 participants, mostly young children and adolescents, have demonstrated improvement in their attitudes towards each other.
Nicholson said that a significant area of the initiative is developing life skills through sport, particularly football. According to him, this disciplined sport aids youths to understand the values of teamwork through the practice of good sportsmanship, the importance of adherence to rules and discipline, while at the same time, promoting the benefits of exercise.
“This football, technical coaching session not only provides training for the game but also brought enlightenment about the impact of drugs and alcohol on the body and how to avoid it. They were taught ways to prevent violence in their community, especially against women and girls,” he said.
Nicholson added that football was chosen because it is by far the least expensive sport. “All you need is a ball,” he said, only to add “There’s a lot I can say about it, but the teachers in the school are reporting improvements with the children. They are seeing results”.
YCG has supported the school to start boys and girls’ club at the Baramita Primary School, where not only children are being engaged, but also teachers are benefitting from the exercise.
A session with teachers of Baramita Primary School
The Director told Guyana Standard that the YCG has plans to expand to other communities within the region, including Eye Lash and Five Star.
The Spotlight Initiative Programme is currently being implemented in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
The initiative is about investing in strategic and catalytic interventions to address the root causes and holistically address gender-based violence and family violence, employing innovative approaches involving state and government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, the private sector, and women movements.
The Spotlight Initiative’s governing body is chaired by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed and European Union Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, who provide the Initiative’s overall strategic direction.
