THE National Youth Development Network (NYDN) has launched a youth festival, to be held from October 23 to 26 at the Sophia Exhibition Complex, Greater Georgetown, under the theme ‘Fusion of our strengths, celebrating what is right with our destiny’. The NYDN plans to make the youth festival an annual feature on its calendar of events, and this year’s event will be a three-day extravaganza beginning with an opening ceremony on October 23 and ending with a grand ‘Guyana Night’ on October 26. Speaking at the launching ceremony at the National Library on Monday, Chairman of the National Implementation Committee for the Youth Festival, Mr. Zaman Shaw said it is designed mainly to give young people an opportunity to demonstrate what they can do in the new epoch of Guyana’s development. He explained that the idea for the youth festival was conceptualised after the NYDN, in fulfilling its mandate as a national youth organisation, realised that young people play a significant role in development of themselves, their communities, and the country at large. Shaw said the objectives of the festival are to raise awareness, appreciation and understanding of the contributions made by young people towards national development; and to highlight the multi-dimensional facets of Guyana’s cultural heritage, and the efforts made by youths to embrace and participate in its preservation. The festival also aims to facilitate dialogue between youth and youth-focused stakeholders, such as policy makers, academia, Government agencies and the private sector, with the primary objective being to map ideas and stimulate debate on youth development. In addition, Shaw said the youth festival aims to afford the participating youth opportunities for self-development and character building, and also for imbuing qualities of leadership and mutual tolerance; while also changing the negative public perception of young people. A barrage of activities has been planned as part of the three-day youth festival. Among these are an ongoing media campaign, which will include daily uploads on social media websites, radio and television programmes, and production of a magazine. Shaw related that the NYDN has already partnered with Youth Media Guyana, which will be executing the public relations duties for the festival. Moreover, as part of the festival, there will be youth and stakeholders’ dialogue forums, exhibitions, and a youth opportunity launch pad to provide a space for youth-focused stakeholders to showcase, introduce and launch new campaigns, programmes and initiatives targeting youth, and a youth innovation hub to give young people an opportunity to showcase their unique innovations. Additionally, there will be an “I am a proud Guyanese youth” initiative, which will enable grassroots youth to document their success stories through videos, posters, editorials, and other forms of media. The festival will include job fairs, social media trainings and live streaming of events; an entertainment gala to showcase local talent, a heritage village, and a visual arts exhibition to provide an open space for youths to use painting to express their vision for Guyana and its development. Shaw advised that the NYDN is currently engaging corporate Guyana for funding of the events, and the organisation is currently working towards a tentative budget of $4M for the youth festival. The NYDN will also be collaborating with Government ministries, other youth organisations and the private sector. (Nadine Sanchara)
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:12:21 +0000
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