Over the past few months, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs has been engaging hinterland communities to implement the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), recruiting hundreds of youths between the ages of 16-40 from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 as Community Support Officers (CSOs).

This programme is part of Government’s commitment to youth development and advancement, and investment in the lives of the Indigenous people. It is aimed at developing young Amerindians in the various villages and communities through the creation of job opportunities and building capacity, and strengthening their individual interests and skills.

According to Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, the programme has been moving apace and based on reports from the leaders, the communities themselves have been tremendously benefiting from the works of the CSOs.

During an address to the CSOs at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting which was held at the Guyana International Conference (GICC) recently, Minister Sukhai said that based on requests to ensure that youths take their rightful place in society, the concept of the YEAP was established and it was grounded and well received by the villages.

An orientation was held in the respective regions and the young people were attached to their villages as CSOs, to be trained in developmental work in various sectors, after which they will learn a skill and become employable.

The most striking and numerous requests from Amerindian leaders was the call for the youth engagement and involvement to nation building.

“This Government is moving progressively and incrementally changing the landscape of Guyana including the hinterland. However, we cannot at a single stroke create all the technical institutes that are requested, but we have to start somewhere,” Minister Sukhai stressed. She said that often times there are requests for schools and institutions, but development is a process and that process is ongoing.

The project will engage the youths beyond six months, depending on its success. Two communities have withdrawn their CSOs from the project, and during her opening address at the NTC, Minister Sukhai urged “that the leaders of those communities should put aside their political lenses and see that the young people of today be given a chance to make choices that will benefit them.”

She said those young people will become leaders and, “ we cannot allow them to become wasted along the way…it is the young people’s call and, must ensure that they are catered for and fight for the opportunities for them and not deny it for them,” Minister Sukhai urged.

Placement of the CSOs in the various offices was done with the majority being assigned to the various Amerindian Village Councils. The Guyana Forestry Commission, Regional Democratic Councils and the Ministry of Education also accepted some of the CSOs to their respective hinterland offices.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is at present finalising a list to absorb those who are interested in working in the health sector, within offices in the various hinterland villages.

Specialised training in various areas like Agriculture, Aquaculture, Book -keeping, Small Business, Infrastructure, and other areas are also ongoing in collaboration with other Government Ministries.

The Project Team of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is working closely with the CSOs until the completion of the programme. The youths are also entitled to a stipend of $30,000 monthly.