The Commonwealth Day celebrations in Guyana culminated with a grand Interactive Youth Camp for primary and secondary school students on Friday March 16 at the Diamond Community Centre.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Guyana in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (CYPCC). Special prizes were awarded by CYPCC to four outstanding schools.

Director of Youth, Mr. Carl Brandon welcomed the students and encouraged them to take time off to understand and respect each other's beliefs and to appreciate and respect the diversity which exists in Guyana.

Addressing the students, CYPCC's Regional Director Mr. Henry Charles stressed the need to recognise that young people are different from other members of society. He pointed out that one of the factors making them different is their willingness to take risks.

Each school was given an opportunity to present to their peers the problems that affect them and suggest strategies that government ministries and youth agencies should adopt to address these concerns. Among some of the issues highlighted by way of dramatic presentations, poetry, songs and other art forms were unemployment, teenage pregnancy, need for skills training facilities, racism and garbage disposal among others.

Grove Primary was awarded the first prize for the best presentation in the Primary School category. In the Secondary School category Methodus Secondary School was awarded the first prize. Runners up for the primary and secondary school were also awarded.

CYPCC also pledged support in hosting a number of leadership development activities for the participating schools. The Regional Director encouraged winning schools to use the monetary prizes to implement programmes that will contribute to the students' personal development. He also engaged a number of unattached youth who were “listening to the discussions” to advise how CYPCC can help to address their needs.

Also present at the Interactive Youth Camp were staff of CYPCC, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education and the President's Youth Award Republic of Guyana and other members of the community.