Youth Empowerment & Mentorship Programme launched in collaboration with private sector

A new Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Programme was launched under the Men on Mission (MOM) initiative, in collaboration with the private sector on Friday.

This programme aims to empower children between the ages 5-14 and young people to reach their fullest potential through regular one-on-one meetings, activities, workshops, and other learning opportunities across Guyana. The programme is structured to provide a foundation of support and guidance, with mentors carefully matched with mentees based on shared interests and goals.

The programme aspires to instill confidence, inspire ambition, and foster personal and professional development in young people. It also aims to equip them with positive habits, skills, and knowledge to navigate life’s challenges and seize opportunities in Guyana. At the official launch on Friday, it was revealed that mentorship groups will be established nationwide.

Chief Executive Officer of ENet, Vishok Persaud, representing the broad private sector coalition, highlighted the unique nature of this programme during remarks.

He mentioned that, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali had engaged private sector groups about contributing their time, energy, and resources to collaborate with MOM on this programme.

“His Excellency said don’t think about 30-40 children that you are helping, think about the homes, the change they will bring to that community and the impact it will have,” Mr Persaud said.

Persaud also stressed the need for widespread collaboration with the private sector and contributing to the “moral fabric” of society by instilling good family values.

“Progress is measured in so many ways and success is measured in so many ways, but we must be patriotic, we must instill good family values in our young ones, in ourselves, in our communities, our homes, our churches, our masjids, our mandirs and this is an opportunity like many that would come for all of us to contribute differently,” he noted.

Persaud also addressed the need for an equipped workforce in Guyana. He expressed hope that this programme would empower Guyanese children and communities to think differently and contribute to the workforce, whether in jobs, entrepreneurial leadership, or other roles that will drive the country forward.

Meanwhile, President Ali during his remarks highlighted the holistic nature of the programme, which already includes 40 children.

These children will gather every afternoon to identify and nurture their special talents, receive extra learning support from the School of the Nations, and engage in various activities such as yoga and karate.

“This [Private Sector] group will bring together 40 children everyday from the 1st of June. They will have a nutritious meal, they will do their homework together, they will have access to the internet and Enetworks would allow that, they are putting internet facility, they will have access to computers and they will have compulsory counselling sessions, motivation sessions,” the Head-of-State said.

Many of the children come from single-parent, working mothers.

President Ali committed to being an active partner in the program, not only by cooking for the children but also by talking with them and being part of their lives.

“They will do things that will uplift them, things that will inspire them, things that give them a holistic approach and understanding of life,” the President stated and noted that the children will only graduate from the programme once they have completed their tertiary education.