By Shawn Seabrookes
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): It is imperative that young people develop the necessary skills so they could maximize youth work outreach en route to having a greater impact on social development.
This was the concerted view of over a dozen youth leaders, the Director of Youth, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Mr. Osmond Petty and Glenyss James, Programme Manager of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), Caribbean Centre, who facilitated the one day seminar at the FND Conference Room, on Thursday, May 10th.
James indicated that it is high time for the region to stop dwelling on the designing of framework policies geared toward youth development and to have a more proactive approach to the whole issue.
She, however, noted that if a more proactive approach is to be adopted, the region must seek to professionalize youth work and develop competency standards that are accepted throughout the Caribbean.
The Commonwealth Youth Work Programme official revealed that a certificate/diploma programme was established two years ago, and in August of 2006 112 youth leaders, representing 12 countries, graduated from the diploma programme, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus.
James also disclosed that the CYP is working very closely with the Heart Trust NTA to work out standards that will be accepted across the region.
The move toward a regional competency standard for youth has been advocated by CARICOM and it will allow for free movement of skills.
"It will definitely be a guaranteed measure for upward mobility," James noted.
~~adz:Left~~She concluded her overview by expressing the hope that the CYP would be able to develop a post graduate programme in the near future.
Permanent Secretary Petty outlined that the objective of the one day seminar was to foster personal, social and educational development, while at the same time empowering assertive and constructive work in national development.
Petty said it is high time for community regeneration of communities and the ripple effect will show positive results such as the reduction of crime and delinquency.
Youth Director Hanley said the seminar was timely as the Youth Department will meet with various stakeholders soon to select various youth officers for various zones.
"We need to zero in on the competencies that are workable and look for indicators that show the targets and mandates are being met," he noted.
Most of the competencies were investigated through groups.
