Caribbean contest targets boys at risk

The World Bank and Commonwealth Secretariat have launched the Caribbean contest: Keeping Boys Out of Risk.

“This is a regional contest to identify, recognize and promote initiatives which have demonstrated success in engaging youth-at-risk in the Caribbean,” a press release from the World Bank and Commonwealth said. Participation in the competition aims to spur South-South knowledge sharing and learning and provides an opportunity to increase the visibility and positioning of institutional activities at the national, regional and international level, it added.

National and regional stakeholders in World Bank and Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean are eligible to submit application/s for one or more activities that are currently ongoing or completed after 2000. Participating initiatives should fall under one of the following three categories: School and education initiatives: educational programmes, mentoring, school management initiatives, etc; School-to-work transition: youth job training, special support to young entrepreneurs, etc; Community-based initiatives: after-school activities, youth service programmes, violence prevention, etc.

The release said ministries, schools, universities, special projects, NGOs and stakeholders in the private sector are encouraged to apply. Institutions seeking to participate in the contest must submit the application form found on the www.worldbank.org/lacgender website. Forms must be completed in full, signed and sent to youthcaribbean@worldbank.org by January 20.