Youth Employment Summit Youth Employment Summit Guyana Network (YESGY)Guyana Network (YESGY)

DEBBIE JOSEPHDEBBIE JOSEPHYESGY Coordinator YESGY Coordinator

•Guyana Information Youth Guyana Information Youth ProjectProject

• 2004-10-042004-10-04

Description of ProjectDescription of ProjectGIYP aims to provide young people between the ages of 17–30 with GIYP aims to provide young people between the ages of 17–30 with skills to become employable, skills to become employable, have a business idea, and/or have a have a business idea, and/or have a strong desire to own their own business.strong desire to own their own business.

Project GoalProject Goal

• To provide an Information and Communications Technology Center for young To provide an Information and Communications Technology Center for young people to access information on building sustainable small businesses, while at people to access information on building sustainable small businesses, while at the same time providing a Learning Resource Center so that data processing the same time providing a Learning Resource Center so that data processing skills among others can be provided to target audience.skills among others can be provided to target audience.

Project Design PrinciplesProject Design Principles • To empower yTo empower young people to become technologically literate oung people to become technologically literate

• To help young people acquire the skills and knowledge needed to perform To help young people acquire the skills and knowledge needed to perform efficiently in a computerized environment. efficiently in a computerized environment.

Project DurationProject Duration • The project duration is 6 months for business training and mentorshipThe project duration is 6 months for business training and mentorship

Project InputsProject 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-Financial Resources (Donor institution, UNESCO and Networking with Micro-Financing Institutions)Financing Institutions)

Project CycleProject CycleConceptualizationConceptualization• The project was implemented at Volunteer Youth Corps due to the need tThe project was implemented at Volunteer Youth Corps due to the need to o

provide a center for the collection of information on how to conceptualize, provide a center for the collection of information on how to conceptualize, document, and initiate a small business. document, and initiate a small business.

IncentivesIncentives• 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 Attachment to a success business institutions based on their business

interest for a period of 6 months.interest for a period of 6 months.

Implementation 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, The process included: ( a) set-up stage of equipment (b) screening process,

(c) selection process, (d) identification of the participants, tutors and (c) selection process, (d) identification of the participants, tutors and mentors, (e) review ofmentors, (e) review of curriculum, and (f) matching of participants with curriculum, and (f) matching of participants with mentors). mentors).

• The process was made possible through funding by UNESCO, hiring of The process was made possible through funding by UNESCO, hiring of Project Coordinator and a set of dedicated Volunteer Youth Corps Project Coordinator and a set of dedicated Volunteer Youth Corps members.members.

ResultsResultsNumbers of persons reached by the activities?Numbers of persons reached by the activities? • 17-30 years, including 30 male and female participants, some of whom came 17-30 years, including 30 male and female participants, some of whom came

from region 4 & 3 in Guyana from region 4 & 3 in Guyana

Response from communityResponse from community• High percentage of unemployed youth wanting to be part of the programHigh percentage of unemployed youth wanting to be part of the program• In terms of small businesses, there were five persons who have since opened In terms of small businesses, there were five persons who have since opened

their own businesses and are still to date operational.their own businesses and are still to date operational.• Other participants have strengthened their already established businessesOther 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 actionYES Framework for action• Three of the six E’s were achieved namely: Entrepreneurship, Employability and Three of the six E’s were achieved namely: Entrepreneurship, Employability and

Empowerment through business skills education and creation of employment. Empowerment through business skills education and creation of employment.

Plans for the futurePlans for the future • GIYP will be working very closely with the YESGY campaign to meet the needs 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 of youth regarding ICT, the implementation of other programs that will enable the development of and build the capacity of youth.the development of and build the capacity of youth.

• Will be strategically linked to HIV where the livelihood of older orphans and Will be strategically linked to HIV where the livelihood of older orphans and vulnerable youth between 17-25 years will benefit from vulnerable youth between 17-25 years will benefit from business skills and business skills and facilitation in accessing micro-financing. facilitation in accessing micro-financing.

• A Needs Assessment will be conducted to A Needs Assessment will be conducted to ascertain what are the community ascertain what are the community service needs and what are the opportunity for livelihood creation through service needs and what are the opportunity for livelihood creation through community service.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 Challenges and Lessons LearnedLearnedProblems FacedProblems Faced • EconomicEconomic

– Transportation and access to the outlying areasTransportation and access to the outlying areas– lack of subsidiary funds or subventions to assist the disadvantaged youth are major concerns.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 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.the private sector to accommodate the qualified labor force.

• Politics: DPolitics: Does not play a major role in interfering with youth desire to learn. In fact, it is 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 .believed that it fuels the desire to learn .

• Culturally: Culturally: Because of Guyana’s diverse culture, there are a few setbacks in this area for Because of Guyana’s diverse culture, there are a few setbacks in this area for instance race, religion and speech impedimentinstance race, religion and speech impediment

• SociallySocially: Low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, fear of stigmatization, and peer pressure are : 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. major factors contributing to young persons being able to empower themselves.

New KnowledgeNew 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.