The Minister of Human Services and Social Security (MOHSSS) yesterday launched the ‘Storyboard’ initiative which will allow twenty-five girls to share their life experiences and how they overcome challenges through writing.
The ‘Storyboard’ initiative was launched at the Guyana Women’s Leader-ship Institute (GWLI) at Cove-and-John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) as the world observed Inter-national Girls Day yesterday.
The girls will receive help in their creative writing skills from six teachers and six journalists of the Guyana Press Association.
In a statement issued yesterday, the MOHSSS said that stories written by the girls who are all members of vulnerable groups across the country will be published.
The proceeds, the ministry said will be used to aid in their future careers.
During her address at the launch yesterday, the Minister said that the initiative is aimed at imparting creative writing skills and functional literacy.
She explained that participants will be given the opportunity to share their stories “exactly as they are”.
“We wanted to ensure that International Girls Day was not just marked by a message or something we said but we wanted to do something that would make an impact on you. Something transformative…something that can change your lives,” the statement quoted Persaud as saying.
The stories will later be published and proceeds will be invested into the girls’ future. “The proceeds from the books that are published will go right back to helping them build their careers and make their dreams into a reality,” Persaud added.
Meanwhile, the statement said that Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ann Greene noted that the initiative was part of occupational therapy.
“It will help you to deal with any issues that you have as young people. It’s a way of expressing yourself, especially if you cannot get anyone to hear you, so I want to encourage you to make full use of it,” Greene said, according to the statement.
Christine Jaipaul of Tutorial Academy Secondary School with over 20 years of experience, who will be assisting the girls said that over the next six weeks the girls will be writing short stories.
“From my understanding of the programme, I will be teaching them to write short stories over a period of six weeks; each week we’ll look at a different element. It’s a great initiative as I always advocate for young girls in need,” the statement quoted Jaipaul as saying.
At yesterday’s launch, each girl was provided with a creative survival kit which includes a tablet, hygiene products, toiletries, stationery supplies and a backpack to motivate and support them.
Persaud also launched the Youth Unfiltered TV programme. This program-me, according to the statement will help to ignite health discussions among girls across the country, and heighten awareness of their challenges.
The programme, the statement said will be aired from this weekend and will feature young influencers who will discuss “timely” topics on the ministry’s social media platforms.
