Guyana Red Cross Youth Conference encourages volunteerism, community involvement

Participants of the Guyana Red Cross Society’s first annual Youth Conference returned to their homes a little tired and dusty from their 12-hour bus trip from Annai.  Travel-weary as they were, however, the youths reported that the December 10-12 conference was a success.
               
The Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS), volunteers, and their community partners organized the conference in observance of World AIDS Day (December 1) and International Volunteer’s Day (December 5) with the purpose of encouraging volunteerism and community involvement among young people.

 During the three days of the workshop, nearly 100 young participants and facilitators from regions 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10 met for cultural presentations, youth-focused discussion groups, and information sessions.

Youths were encouraged to exchange experiences and ideas with each other, to arrive at new and constructive solutions to the issues they felt were of the most importance in their communities.

Sessions were conducted by representatives from the Bina Hill Institute, the Macushi Research Unit, the GRCS, and Peace Corps Volunteers. After a presentation by a representative of the Macushi Research Unit, Colene Thompson, a participant from Georgetown noted: “It was interesting meeting with persons from other backgrounds and cultures, especially learning about the traditions and ways of life of the Amerindian peoples of Annai.”

Topics discussed included “Young people and Sexuality: the unspoken and taboo,” “The impact of HIV and AIDS on young people,” “Stigma and Discrimination among young people,” “My community’s needs,” and “Guyana in 20 years: vision 2026.”

The outcome of these discussions was presented in formal presentations and showcased during the closing ceremony in the form of poems, posters, song, and skits.

Throughout the camp, youths were encouraged to mix with each other and learn from each other’s experiences. At a campfire on the last night, participants treated each other to demonstrations of their local culture in the forms of traditional and contemporary songs, dance, skits, and stories. Other activities included a trip to the Rupununi River, tours around Annai and the savannah, and stories and games at night.

The conference was a truly cooperative venture: it could not have taken place without donations and support of businesses and community members in Regions 1, 4 and 9, and would not have been a success without the support of the community of Annai, the Annai Secondary School, GRCS facilitators, Peace Corps Volunteers, and participants themselves.

Integral to the success of the conference were Amazon Caribbean (AMCAR), which assisted in transportation for the youths from Region 1; Citizens Bank, Republic Bank, and Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry, which sponsored passage for youths from Georgetown to Annai; and local businesses, including Bounty Meat Center, Geddes Grant, Sterling Enterprises, and C & F supermarket, which donated food and supplies.

Lisa Prashad, a participant, commented “I have learned that different people from different backgrounds have different views on HIV/AIDS. But if we all work together we can help to overcome this deadly disease.”