The Guyana Information Youth Project

The Guyana Information Youth Project (GIYP) is a Volunteer Youth Corps initiative that was funded within the framework of United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Information Youth Programme and in partnership with the Guyana Federation of UNESCO Clubs for it’s pilot year (February 2002 – February 2003).

The project was launched on the 21^st February 2002 in response to the increasing demand in Guyana for young people to become technologically literate and to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to perform efficiently in a computerized environment.

Project Description:

GIYP aims to provide young people between the ages of 17 – 30 with the information necessary to document ideas in the form of business concepts so that they can pursue and realize the establishment of successful and sustainable small businesses. The programme provides beneficiaries with skills through the provision of advisors who guide them in the process of designing and implementing the developed concepts.

Project Goal:

To provide an Information and Communications Technology Center for young people to access information on building sustainable small businesses whilst at the same time providing a Learning Resource Center so that data processing skills among others can be provided to target audience.

Objectives:

q       To provide a center for the collection of information on how to conceptualise, document and initiate a small business

q       To provide young Guyanese with access to learning resources such as books, audiovisual aides and information technology.

The main medium that is used for the implementation of this project is information and communication technologies such as computers and audiovisual equipment.

The Guyana Information Youth Project is being executed in three-folds:

1.      A Training Programme

2.      A Mentorship Programme

3.        Attachments

There is also an Information and Communication Research Center where beneficiaries and the public can access information on a wide range of issues.

The Attachment Period

Recognizing the vital importance of “hands-on” experience, the Guyana Information Youth Project continuously approaches several established business enterprises in an attempt to have them provide the participants with an opportunity to rotate in the different departments after they would have completed the six-months training programme.

Research Center

Volunteer Youth Corps has established an Information Technology Research Center where young people can access information on building sustainable small businesses and additionally social issues affecting them. The Research Center which is housed in the secretariat of VYC provides information on issues such as HIV/AIDS, Teenage Pregnancy, Drug Abuse etc. and is accessible to all participants of the project during the hours of 09:00 – 18:00hrs Monday – Friday.

Project Team

1. Project Director provides guidance to the project coordinator and helps to evaluate the programme with a view to strengthening its components

2. The Project Coordinator is responsible for managing the execution of the day-to-day project-related activities, monitoring and evaluation of the project and project related activities

3. Tutors are mandatory for the successful and effective implementation of the curriculum.

4. Mentors provide guidance and support to help the budding entrepreneur in the transition from theory to practical, from business concept to business enterprise.

Selection Criteria

Anyone seeking to become a participant of the Guyana Information Youth Project must:

ü      Have a business idea or business

ü      Lack know-how

ü      Between that ages of 17 – 30

ü      Have time for training, mentoring and attachments

ü      Have demonstrated leadership skills

Requirements

Participants would be required to bring:

• A police clearance

• 2 passport sized photographs

• 2 recommendations

These requirements need to be produced at some point of the training, not necessarily at the initial application and screening process.

There will be a registration fee valued at $200.00