The latest batch of graduates from the President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme has taken the number of youths who have passed through the award at the bronze, silver and gold levels to 5,516, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a press release.
The graduation ceremony on Friday at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) coincided with the award’s 13th anniversary and saw successful participants receiving certificates and being conferred with lapel pins.
President Bharrat Jagdeo joined Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and Permanent Secretary Alfred King, Cuban Ambassador to Guyana Raul Gortazar Marrero and Mexican Ambassador to Guyana Fernando Sandoval in presenting awards to the youths at the ceremony.
The award, a model of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, International Award for Young People was launched by it first Patron, former President Janet Jagan on October 3, 1998 to empower youths to cope with and, overcome challenges that may impede their development.
Services, expedition, skills and physical recreation are the four main sections of the programme offered at the bronze, silver and gold levels.
Through the award, the release said, many of the nation’s youths offered useful community services to others, played a key role in peer education and turtle conservation at Shell Beach, Region One.
In his charge to the awardees, President Jagdeo reiterated the purpose of the award to instill positive energy and values in youths.
“This is a story not just of personal growth for you… but also growth in social capital formation in our country… it’s the social energy, all of us together working in concert, that will change our country,” President Jagdeo said.
The youths who are within the age range 18 to 25 years were told that they have the potential to rise to the challenges provided that the opportunities are available and President Jagdeo shared his own experience as a youth in the face of challenges.
“Today young people are demonstrating what they can do for our country. It doesn’t mean that we don’t value the wisdom or the sacrifices and the efforts of our elders but societies that are young in energy, mentally and physically … will develop more,” Jagdeo said.
Meanwhile, President Jagdeo received a special appreciation award during the ceremony, before it was announced that Region One had copped the best Region and Patentia, the best unit award.
During the investiture ceremony on October 21 the PYARG was awarded a medal of service, group award for dedicated services to the young people of Guyana.
Minister Anthony said the PYARG is part of a global family of 132 countries participating in such awards and highlighted the large number of youths who were motivated to continue in the area of volunteerism and living healthy, meaningful and productive lifestyles.
