Six students complete youth ambassador programme in the US

Six Guyanese secondary school students completed the annual three-week Youth Ambassadors Programme (YAP) which is hosted by the United States Government to heighten civic responsibility.

According to a press release from the United States Embassy in Georgetown, the YAP aims to prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities by engaging in civic activities with their peers from selected countries worldwide.

The youth ambassadors at the White House (US Embassy photo)
The youth ambassadors at the White House (US Embassy photo)

The 2015 YAP under the theme “Youth and Social Transformation” commenced on August 9 and concluded on August 30. The six students: Dolly Chambers, Ashraf Dabie, Joashaha Drakes, Nareema Khan, Hanani Lewi, Natisha Mokutnauth and their mentor Royston Alkins met with 36 regional counterparts from Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and Suriname in Brattleboro, Vermont.

The release said that in describing a part of his experience, Dabie said that “though my highlights in Seattle thus far are defined mainly by my interactions with the homeless, the visit to the Space Needle, exploring the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and touring China Town, the activity that was most outstanding to me was volunteering at North West Harvest.  At North West Harvest, I, along with two of my Seattle teammates, assisted in the organization’s daily distribution of food to the homeless and less fortunate. This experience definitely opened my mind to the struggles of the less privileged, and direct contact with these anguished people allowed me to truly sympathize with them. It also inspired me to consider the homeless in my country and  initiate a similar project in Guyana. That experience single-handedly achieved program objectives of enhancing my understanding of diversity and improving civic engagement.  I must say, only few are afforded the opportunity to participate in such a generously sponsored and well implemented program, and I am honored and grateful to be among such a minority.”

The programme focused on civic education, community service youth leadership development via site meetings, experiential learning activities, civic participation at the community level, mentoring by community, business and NGO leaders, volunteer programmes and homestays with American families.

During the three-week period, the group visited several cities inclusive of Washington, DC; Cleveland, Ohio; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Seattle Washington. In addition to which, the participants were afforded the opportunity to share in ethnic, religious and racial diversity with a network of international peers from participating countries such as Lebanon and Iraq; fulfilling another of the programme’s objectives which aims to promote understanding between the people of the US and citizens of the international community to influence attitudes of the leaders of a new generation.

Guyana has had a total of 29 students and six mentors completing the YAP since September of 2012. At the end of the programme, participants have to fulfil the mandate of sharing their newly acquired skill in their home countries with other youth leaders via community-oriented service projects. Additionally, the participants are expected to implement follow-on activities to remain in communication with fellow participants, reflect on their experiences and integrate the skills acquired into their daily lives.

Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Georgetown, Bryan Hunt met with the participants on September 8 during which he reaffirmed his country’s commitment to work with the people and government of Guyana in improving the “well-being of Guyana’s most valuable resources – its people – through capacity building and institution strengthening.”