Youth Month to Promote Respect and Understanding
By Suelika N. Buchanan
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| Director of Youth Jeffery Hanley. SKNVibes.com Photo/Suelika N. Buchanan |
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Youth Month is celebrated in November and is geared at “Promoting Respect and Understanding: A rationale for Youth Empowerment for the Present and the Future”.
Director of Youth, Jeffery Hanley told SKNVibes that the month of November is packed with activities centered on the theme of promoting positive lifestyles among youth.
“We thought the theme was quite appropriate because of the uproar we had in crime and youth violence and we thought we should zero in on going back to basics, like the morals and the virtues and having understanding for everything you do, respecting property, respecting elders and people in general,” he said.
Among the activities planned, Hanley said a number a community project will be take place on Saturday 10, with the painting of the Beach Allen Primary School.
He said that the school has been used for a number of youth and other activities and they felt that they should give back to the school.
“We’re going to be doing some painting along with other youth groups and the Pentecostal church group who uses the school as well will also be apart of the project,” he said.
On Sunday Nov. 11 they will be having a historical Youth Dialogue, with national representatives, where a number of youth representing varied youth groups, will gather at the Ocean Terrace Inn at 2 p.m.
He said they will discuss issues that are affecting them, and will also look at what is happening in the country and make recommendations as to what the Government can do to improve on them.
~~Adz:Right~~ “There will be various ministers of Government and other officials present to hear the concerns of the youth and what is unique about this dialogue is that several seminars will follow after,” he said. “A comprehensive report of the youth dialogue and discussions would be documented and available for the public and for Government to have at all times to look back at when formulating policies so they’ll know what young people have indicated.”
On Wednesday 14, a series of panel discussions on various radio stations will be aired where the Department of Youth, will expose young people to a number of topics.
Crime and violence, Brain Drain and What is causing young people to be so angry, will be some of the topics discussed as well as ways to bring about change.
“We’re also trying to help our young people in deciding what career they ought to take because a number of them take areas with a quick degree, and when they do come back, it takes them a long time to get a job,” he said. “For instance if they do general Business with no specialty area you’re not as marketable… so we’re going to try and see if we can get some counselors to come on board with us so as to give young people who are going away to study, an idea on how they can choose their courses so they can be marketable when they get back to St. Kitts and to continue the development of the country.”
The Department of Youth is also hoping that the launch of their new television program will be in time for the Youth month’s activities.
The show will be called “Youth Express” and will be youth focused and created by youth. It is expected to be aired on Thursday 15 at ZIZ.
“We are working along with other persons from ZIZ on the implementation of this program where we’re trying to bring an audience on television, to listen to the concerns of our youth,” he said. “Too often we paint the picture of youth as being negative when in fact the positive outweighs the negative… we’re producing this show that we hope will be aired weekly.”
On Saturday 17, a sign will be installed at the entrance of the Independence Square which was made by some youths who attended a Summer Camp and were apart of a Metal Workshop at the camp.
“This is young people again showing they have talent once given the opportunity,” Hanley said. “I want to give special thanks to Ponteen Metal Craft and his staff, who puts himself out of the way to try and work with young people even when he’s up to his neck with work.”
On Sunday 18 is the National Youth Service where the youths will be celebrating in worship at the Antioch Baptist Church.
On Monday 19, there will be a Youth Leaders Empowerment Challenge and on Friday 23, a Youth Food Festival and Dish Presentation will be held at the Independence Square.
At the Food Festival Home Economic students of various high schools will create the National dish and another dish of their choice.
They will also have other delicacies and beverages on sale.
Also on that day at around 7: 30 p.m. is the Youth Gospel Praise Festival and Day of Prayer that will also be held in the Independence Square.
There will be a Youth Beach Bash on Sunday 25, and on Wednesday 28, a Marching Band Parade at Warner Park beginning at 5: 30 p.m.
The Youth Parliament Debate will be held on Thursday 29, where young people will go into Parliament and debate two bills.
The Launch of the Youth Department’s Website is also schedule for that day along with the presentation of the National Youth Policy Draft that will be presented to Government.
On Friday 30, a Youth Super Concert and Excellence Award will climax the month of activities.
Hanley said that nomination forms are available for those who would like to nominate youths in the society and that awards will be given in eight categories.
