Youth Employment Summit Guyana Network (YESGY)

DEBBIE JOSEPH YESGY Coordinator Guyana Information Youth Project Guyana Information Youth Project

Description of Project GIYP aims to provide young people between the ages of 17–30 with skills to become employable, have a business idea, and/or have a strong desire to own their own business. Project Goal To provide an Information and Communications Technology Center for young people to access information on building sustainable small businesses, while at the same time providing a Learning Resource Center so that data processing skills among others can be provided to target audience. To provide an Information and Communications Technology Center for young people to access information on building sustainable small businesses, while at the same time providing a Learning Resource Center so that data processing skills among others can be provided to target audience. Project Design Principles To empower y oung people to become technologically literate To empower y oung people to become technologically literate To help young people acquire the skills and knowledge needed to perform efficiently in a computerized environment. To help young people acquire the skills and knowledge needed to perform efficiently in a computerized environment. Project Duration The project duration is 6 months for business training and mentorship The project duration is 6 months for business training and mentorship Project Inputs Human Resources ( Project Director and Coordinator, Mentors, Tutors) Human Resources ( Project Director and Coordinator, Mentors, Tutors) Equipment Resources (Computers, telephone, Photocopier etc) Equipment Resources (Computers, telephone, Photocopier etc) Financial Resources (Donor institution, UNESCO and Networking with Micro-Financing Institutions) Financial Resources (Donor institution, UNESCO and Networking with Micro-Financing Institutions)

Project Cycle Project Cycle Conceptualization The project was implemented at Volunteer Youth Corps due to the need t o provide a center for the collection of information on how to conceptualize, document, and initiate a small business. The project was implemented at Volunteer Youth Corps due to the need t o provide a center for the collection of information on how to conceptualize, document, and initiate a small business. Incentives Incentives Facilitated through a process of gaining micro credit for business start-up. Facilitated through a process of gaining micro credit for business start-up. Enhancement of their employability status. Enhancement of their employability status. Empowerment through the development of data processing skills. Empowerment through the development of data processing skills. Attachment to a success business institutions based on their business interest for a period of 6 months. Attachment to a success business institutions based on their business interest for a period of 6 months.Implementation Implementation took place at Volunteer Youth Corps Secretariat. Implementation took place at Volunteer Youth Corps Secretariat. The process included: ( a) set-up stage of equipment (b) screening process, (c) selection process, (d) identification of the participants, tutors and mentors, (e) review of curriculum, and (f) matching of participants with mentors). The process included: ( a) set-up stage of equipment (b) screening process, (c) selection process, (d) identification of the participants, tutors and mentors, (e) review of curriculum, and (f) matching of participants with mentors). The process was made possible through funding by UNESCO, hiring of Project Coordinator and a set of dedicated Volunteer Youth Corps members. The process was made possible through funding by UNESCO, hiring of Project Coordinator and a set of dedicated Volunteer Youth Corps members.

Results Numbers of persons reached by the activities? years, including 30 male and female participants, some of whom came from region 4 & 3 in Guyana years, including 30 male and female participants, some of whom came from region 4 & 3 in Guyana Response from community High percentage of unemployed youth wanting to be part of the program High percentage of unemployed youth wanting to be part of the program In terms of small businesses, there were five persons who have since opened their own businesses and are still to date operational. In terms of small businesses, there were five persons who have since opened their own businesses and are still to date operational. Other participants have strengthened their already established businesses Other participants have strengthened their already established businesses The opportunity to be exposed to micro – finance institutions. The opportunity to be exposed to micro – finance institutions. YES Framework for action Three of the six E’s were achieved namely: Entrepreneurship, Employability and Empowerment through business skills education and creation of employment. Three of the six E’s were achieved namely: Entrepreneurship, Employability and Empowerment through business skills education and creation of employment. Plans for the future GIYP will be working very closely with the YESGY campaign to meet the needs of youth regarding ICT, the implementation of other programs that will enable the development of and build the capacity of youth. GIYP will be working very closely with the YESGY campaign to meet the needs of youth regarding ICT, the implementation of other programs that will enable the development of and build the capacity of youth. Will be strategically linked to HIV where the livelihood of older orphans and vulnerable youth between years will benefit from business skills and facilitation in accessing micro-financing. Will be strategically linked to HIV where the livelihood of older orphans and vulnerable youth between years will benefit from business skills and facilitation in accessing micro-financing. A Needs Assessment will be conducted to ascertain what are the community service needs and what are the opportunity for livelihood creation through community service. A Needs Assessment will be conducted to ascertain what are the community service needs and what are the opportunity for livelihood creation through community service. Gender and ethnicity balance will continued to be taken into consideration. Gender and ethnicity balance will continued to be taken into consideration.

Challenges and Lessons Learned Problems Faced Economic Economic –Transportation and access to the outlying areas –lack of subsidiary funds or subventions to assist the disadvantaged youth are major concerns. –high unemployment situation due to employment freeze in the public sector, couple with inadequate jobs in the private sector to accommodate the qualified labor force. Politics: D oes not play a major role in interfering with youth desire to learn. In fact, it is believed that it fuels the desire to learn. Politics: D oes not play a major role in interfering with youth desire to learn. In fact, it is believed that it fuels the desire to learn. Culturally: Because of Guyana’s diverse culture, there are a few setbacks in this area for instance race, religion and speech impediment Culturally: Because of Guyana’s diverse culture, there are a few setbacks in this area for instance race, religion and speech impediment Socially : Low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, fear of stigmatization, and peer pressure are major factors contributing to young persons being able to empower themselves. Socially : Low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, fear of stigmatization, and peer pressure are major factors contributing to young persons being able to empower themselves. New Knowledge Networking is important. Networking is important. Youth needs to be guided and mentored towards the achievement of their goal. Youth needs to be guided and mentored towards the achievement of their goal. Follow- up action must accompany training. Follow- up action must accompany training. Sound strategic business relations and connections need to be fostered. Sound strategic business relations and connections need to be fostered. There is need for recurrent training for the Project personnel. There is need for recurrent training for the Project personnel.