Dr. Donald Rhodd (right), minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, addressing a press conference to launch 'Youth Month', which is to be observed in November, at the ministry's Heroes Circle offices in Kingston yesterday. Looking on are Ryan Evans (left), senior policy and project officer at the Cabinet office, and Ohene Blake, executive director at the National Centre for Youth Development.
-Junior Dowie photo
Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
WITH ONLY two days left before the October 29 deadline for submissions for the Prime Minister's Youth Awards for Excellence, only six nominations have been received so far.
Ohene Blake, executive director of the National Centre for Youth Development, said the nominations were made in the areas of sport and the academics. Mr. Blake made the announcement yesterday at the official launch of 'Youth Month' at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture's Heroes Circle offices in Kingston. Youth Month will be observed in November. Layne Robinson, programme development specialist at the National Centre for Youth Development, is not worried about the small number of nominees. "It is not unusual, they tend to wait for the last minute," he told The Gleaner.
ACTIVITIES
The Prime Minister's Youth Awards for Excellence will culminate the activities for the month and will be held on November 28. The national awards are conferred on young persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years, who have been deemed to have performed at an excellent national standard by a standing selection committee.
Awards will be presented in eight categories: academics, agriculture, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, leadership, sports, youth in service and journalism.
Mr. Blake also made an appeal for submissions to be made especially in the area of youth in service, which had few nominations last year. Nomination forms are available at the ministry's office, in The Gleaner or on the ministry's website at www.moeyc.gov.jm.
Donald Rhodd, minister of state in the education ministry with special responsibility for youth, said that this year's Youth Month is being observed under the theme 'I pledge My Heart'. "The theme will endeavour to refocus our youth and our citizens on their commitment toward nation building," he said.
Some of the activities planned for the month include a national Youth Month church service, which will be held at the St. James Parish Church in Montego Bay on October 31. Other activities are a national youth Parliament where some 60 young persons representing 46 organisations will participate in the event, which will be held at Gordon House on November 4 and a national sports day at the Kaiser Sports Club in St. Ann on November 6.
An international Students' Day will also be observed on November 17, where students will be called to march for peace and justice. There will also be a national youth organisation conference on November 30.
