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Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 10, 2019 (SKNIS): The Department of Youth Empowerment has introduced a new programme designed to enhance the effectiveness of youth-led organizations to positively impact the lives of persons they serve.

The programme, dubbed the Youth Organisations Capacity Building Session, began with a briefing meeting on April 04, 2019, between the department’s staff and members of organisations. The session was held at the department’s offices in The Cable building. Representatives in attendance were drawn from the Old Road Pathfinders, Dare to be Different, Anjolique Dance Company, St. Kitts-Nevis Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Youth Ambassadors, Warner’s Consultancy, Philadelphia Pathfinders, ALCAS, and the Basseterre Leo Club.

The participants were welcomed by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Tom Buchanan, while the Acting Director of the Department of Youth Empowerment, Pierre Liburd, shared the vision and mission of the department as well as the agenda for youth organizations and youth-serving organisations. Information was also shared on the department’s capacity building and data driven programming as well as its research agenda.

Mr. Liburd said that the training allows for the identification of strengths and gaps among youth organizations and the targeted application of resources for greater effectiveness and efficiency to empowering these organizations to carry out their youth development mandate. Other information shared by staff members included efforts to secure preferential rates from local service providers for non-governmental organizations.

Representatives of youth organizations who missed the initial briefing meeting are invited to make a special effort to attend a similar meeting on May 02, 2019. This will be followed by a CPR and First Aid Training on May 11, 2019. Additional training and networking opportunities will be held throughout the year. Only registered groups with the department will be allowed to attend. Registration can be done at the department’s office on the top floor of The Cable building.