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| Outgoing CARICOM Youth Ambassador and National Youth Officer Pierre Liburd |
Basseterre, St. Kitts (June 14, 2006): Months of training will come to a head on June 20 as St. Kitts and Nevis implements projects under the PANCAP/CARICOM Youth Ambassador Administered Mini-Grant Programme.
The mini-grant was designed to challenge young people to develop projects to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS while increasing their knowledge base. It is being piloted in six countries including St. Kitts and Nevis and is set to expand to five other CARICOM member/associated territories.
"It's a momentous occasion for young people and the fight against HIV/AIDS," outgoing CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) Pierre Liburd told SKNIS. "The groups have learnt quite a bit and we are proud to be entering this phase of implementation."
The first project, which is to be executed shortly, targets the Saddlers area. An official from the lead group called the Saddlers Collaborative Interest Group (SCIG) explained that this project dubbed "Challenge " Choose " Change" will run for ten weeks. It uses basketball as the main vehicle to educate youths about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
The second project under the mini-grant programme is headed by the Washington Archibald High School Young Leaders. This will be implemented in East Basseterre and will come on stream in a few months.
A total of US $10,000.000 has been made available for funding the projects from the Pan Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP). Cheques valued at US $5,000.00 will be ceremoniously presented to the groups slated for the June 20 event at the Foundation for National Development (FND) Conference Room.
~~Adz:Right~~Liburd disclosed agenda items for the ceremony which is expected to be attended by a number of senior government officials including the Honourable Prime Minister and a host of young persons.
"We could expect to get a rundown of the MGP, the progress that we made throughout the year with an overview of the projects to be implemented in the target communities," he revealed, adding that the project reviews will be done by representatives from the group.
"They (the community groups) should be extremely proud of the good work they have been doing and the dedication they have shown in the programme and they will now benefit from the grants available."
The outgoing CYA and youth officer added that it was important to include Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas in this commemoration due to his regional and international efforts to bring urgent attention to the associated dangers and stigma experienced by persons affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.
"It's important to have the Prime Minister there because & he is currently the chairman of PANCAP & and all of this would not have come true if not for his efforts and that of his regional counterparts through PANCAP.
St. Kitts and Nevis began implementing the mini-grant programme in August last year with training workshops.
