Guyana Chronicle
June 1, 2001

GUYANA was among five countries that received the Commonwealth Youth Service Award for outstanding projects promoting youth development.

Grenada and Canada each received one award while Dominica dominated by winning two awards, a release from the Commonwealth Youth Centre said.

The Commonwealth Youth Service Awards Scheme, which was started in 1985 and revised in 1996, is sponsored by the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre based in Guyana.

According to the statement, the Scheme was designed to recognise and award contributions made by young people to the development of their societies.

Awards are given to innovative and sustainable projects which have been planned and implemented by small groups of young men and women to address community needs.

Each year the competition is advertised regionally for those countries wanting to enter the contest.

"This year, 21 projects from six countries entered the competition. The participating territories were Anguilla, Canada, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines," the release noted.

"Criteria for judging ranged from involvement and responsible planning, to success, originality and innovativeness of the project, sustainability and addressing the need of a community, the involvement of both young men and women in the planning and implementing stages and the specific objectives during the last two years.

"Members of the panel of judges were Regional Director Caribbean Centre, Mr Armstrong Alexis; Permanent Secretary within the Guyana Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports Mr Keith Booker; Regional Youth Forum member Adler Bynoe; Health Education Officer Ms Babzie Giddings and Education Consultant Dr Maud Bullen-McKenzie.

"In attendance were Senior Programme Officer Ms Patrice La Fleur; Information Officer Ms Phoebe Loncke-Fraites and Director of Youth in Jamaica, Ms Natalie Campbell.

"The regional award consists of a œ1,000 (sterling) cash grant, certificates and medallions to the winning project team. The cash award must be used to enhance and further develop the project.

"The five awards have been submitted to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London for entry into the Pan Commonwealth Youth Service Award. They will compete against projects from Asia, Africa and the South Pacific.

"The competition will be judged in London at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Committee of Management Reference Group Meeting in December 2001.

"Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre is the Youth Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Centre addresses issues that relate to young women and men in the Caribbean," the release concluded.