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2/19/2010 Newly appointed Minister of Youth Empowerment, Hon. Glenn Fitzroy Phillip has outlined the different activities and programmes youth of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis can look forward to for 2010 and beyond. This was done under two weeks after the appointment of Minister Phillip to this position. Minister Phillip described the plans as great and exciting and spoke to them as a blend of new and existing policies to realise the true potential of the nation’s youth. The minister identified items that would be instrumental for youth development in the 2010 calendar of activities, which is currently being revised. The annual residential summer camp has already been fixtured for July and promises to focus on interpersonal skills development and youth socialization. Phillip also made a commitment to finalizing the National Youth Policy which is currently in its final stages, and is the blue print which will charge the course of youth development in St. Kitts. The pledge was also made “to sit with youth stakeholders from across St Kitts and Nevis to peruse the document and make sure this is the instrument they would want to reflect youth dreams and aspirations.” “We have also realized that there are a number of these young persons interested in technology. Thus we want to introduce a program in the youth department addressing skills through films which basically exposes them to cameras. We intend to take these cameras on the block and basically train those who are interested in operating the cameras,” Phillip said. Phillip also revealed that plans are afoot for a youth video to be shot in 2011 and the footage captured by the young men in the training can make very good material for the final product. “We plan to work along with young, local video producers like Nigel ‘Capo’ Lewis to make this video,” said Phillip. “Our young people have a story to tell and we want to capture that story including that of the boys on the block who society believes are a nuisance to our communities.” Youth Director, Mr. Geoffrey Hanley spoke to the plans of partnering with the Ministry of Education and introducing the entrepreneurial spirit in primary schools. Hanley said this programme will strongly complement “a youth congress, introduced in 2009, where primary school students, grades four through six, were brought together in an effort to develop their leadership skills.” Hanley said the congress would form part of the Youth Department’s 2010 activities. Both the Minister and the Youth Director expressed the belief that youth involvement is strongly needed in the management of our educational institutions. The Director said that the department is “working on establishing a council within the primary schools to help to help students set up and manage and run a business within the school.” They also said that their plans include a strong partnership with the Ministry of Health to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the promotion of healthy living in the lives of the youth. This would include beefed up promotions in saying no to drugs and alcohol and yes to balanced nutrition and organised activities. The Director of Youth also outlined plans to strengthen youth groups around the island, recognizing that there are a number of groups registered with the youth department which are not functioning effectively at this time. “Our plan would be carried out by working with the Social and Community Development Department. Our vision is that Youth Officers and Community Development Officers can work with youth groups and shape meaningful activities to meet the social needs of our young people.” Youth Month Activities are also expected to be fascinating this November. The focus is expected to be on fighting crime and to increase the peace among the youth through skills development and the arts. “We will seek in every way to empower all of the nation’s youth,” said Minister Phillip. |
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