Basseterre, St. Kitts (May 19, 2005): The initiatives of St. Kitts and Nevis in promoting awareness of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA) administered Mini-Grants Programme is serving as a model for the region.
The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) Mini-Grants programme is a sub-component of the regional Global Fund for Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria (GFTAM) project. The programme, which seeks to sensitise persons about HIV/AIDS-related issues, and challenges young persons to develop projects to reduce the transmission of the disease, will be piloted in eight Caribbean countries.
Local CYA Pierre Liburd told SKNIS that the technical working group (TWG) the committee charged with project implementation has employed a clear strategy utilizing the electronic and print media to spread the word about the opportunities offered by the mini-grants. Now the committee is ready to have a more defined presence on the streets with the introduction of posters.
The purpose of the & poster is to provide a visual presentation to market the programme, he said, giving credit to Garth Archibald of Archibald Photography who collaborated in the design.
Mr. Liburd revealed that the posters would be displayed throughout St. Kitts and Nevis shortly and will provide interested persons greater insight into the programme.
The local CYA representative explained that the poster impressed his fellow CYA colleagues. It was passed to the regional body (of CYA) and the adopted it. The eight pilot countries of the mini-grants programme will be using that same poster, he said. It makes me feel really good to see that once again the good work in St. Kitts and Nevis is being used throughout the region.
In March, CARICOMs Deputy Programme Manager for Youth and Community Development Dr. Heather Johnson credited the local TWGs plan and encouraged information sharing with regional counterparts.
St. Kitts and Nevis will also host the official launch of the CYA administered Mini-Grants Programme. A number of top officials including prime ministers as well as senior CARICOM and other related agency representatives are expected to attend. The launch is scheduled for June.
