The Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Program (YEMP) officially launched on Saturday in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), marking a major advancement in youth development.
This initiative, created under the Men on Mission (MOM) programme led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, is designed to provide young people with mentorship, academic support, and life skills training.
The YEMP will operate at several centers across the region, including the Drop-in Center in New Amsterdam, the Hampshire Civic Center, and the Corriverton Line Path Community Center, allowing greater access for youth to essential resources.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Natural Resources Vikram Bharrat urged the youth to follow fields they love rather than those imposed on them. He highlighted the value of honest work when fueled by passion and dedication.
Minister Bharrat told parents and youth gathered, “…you should be more than happy and consider yourself to be fortunate that you have this program from the Men in Mission reaching out to you to offer you additional support so that you can develop yourselves and that you can build a career, a successful professional career in whatever field you’re good at.”
Representing the private sector and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Samantha Reid emphasised that YEMP is a platform for sustainable youth success.
She acknowledged the longstanding role of the Drop-in Center as a community support center and stressed the importance of private-sector partnerships to enhance mentorship resources. Reid encouraged businesses to contribute by volunteering time, skills, or resources, noting that even small contributions could make a meaningful difference for underserved children in the community.
Regional Chairman, David Armogan, described the program as a fulfillment of President Ali’s vision for youth empowerment. He commended parents for their involvement, calling it essential to the program’s success. Armogan highlighted the importance of academic and life skills training in reducing school dropout rates and empowering youth, particularly in subjects like English and Math, where additional support can help students excel in national exams.
“And so we at the regional level, we will give whatever assistance we can, we will give whatever effort we have to put in place to ensure that all these programmes are being rolled out in the way in which we envisage it to be rolled out.” Armogan highlighted.
Lieutenant Colonel Bhageshwar Murli, MOM coordinator, noted that YEMP is rooted in the belief that mentorship drives positive change. The program will include homework assistance, professional guidance, vocational training, and structured mentorship to help youth build a comprehensive skillset. Murli added that similar programs in other regions have shown improvements in students’ focus, behavior, and academic achievements.
The YEMP programme represents a collaborative effort among government, private sector, and community stakeholders, demonstrating a shared commitment to youth development and empowerment.
The post Youth mentorship programme launched in Reg. 6 appeared first on News Room Guyana.
