Dionne Rose Staff Reporter
NOVEMBER IS being observed as 'Youth Month', and according to Ohene Blake,
executive director of the National Centre for Youth Development, the month promises
to be a fulfilling one with the spotlight on young people.
The month, which is being celebrated under the theme 'I Pledge My Heart',
is geared towards focusing young persons on nation building, said Mr. Blake.
"Everything that we do is really to put in place the kind of society in which
they can take up and build on for the future generations to come," he said.
During an interview with The Gleaner recently, Mr. Blake said, "I would
like to take the opportunity to appeal to young persons to take this responsibility
seriously. Way too many of us are sitting passively while decisions that are
being made that will affect the way in which we live in 10, 15, 20, 50 years
... (We must) demand our part in that decision making."
He said that too many youths are being influenced by other cultures, and warned
that "as young people, we must be careful that we maintain that thing that makes
us Jamaican, that thing that tourists come for, that thing that makes our music
sell abroad, we need to take stock."
VARIED ACTIVITIES
Some of the activities planned for the month include a 'National Youth Parliament'
on Thursday, November 4; a national youth organisation sports day on Saturday,
November 6 at the Kaiser Sports Club in St. Ann; the launching of a community
mentorship programme on November 11 at the St. Mary Youth Information Centre
in Port Maria; the observance of International Students Day on November 17;
and a youth organisation conference on November 30 at the Northern Caribbean
University in Mandeville.
The conference will see representatives from all national youth organisations
speaking to issues of advocacy, representation and empowerment of the youth.
The activities will culminate on November 28 with the Prime Minister's National
Youth Awards for Excellence ceremony at Emancipation Park in New Kingston.
Young persons between 15 and 24 years of age will be awarded for having performed
outstandingly in the areas of agriculture, the arts, academics, entrepreneurship,
culture, journalism, sports, service and leadership.
