63 Region Five youths equipped with leadership skills

Some 63 students and teachers from Region Five graduated on Saturday from the Guyana Centre for Civic Engagement’s (GyCCE) YOUthEngage592 Leadership Training Programme, funded by the US Embassy in Georgetown.
According to a release, a total of 53 students and 10 teachers graduated from seven secondary schools—Novar, Bushlot, Rosignol, No. 8, Belladrum, Woodley Park, and Fort Wellington. This cohort marks another milestone in the GyCCE’s ongoing mission to nurture a new generation of civic-minded youth leaders across Guyana.
The release noted that over a three-month period, participants engaged in comprehensive sessions covering civic engagement, elections and voting education, ethical leadership, conflict resolution, volunteerism, and project planning.
As part of the programme, each participant also received a Civic Engagement Kit, which included a soft copy of the Constitution of Guyana, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to better understand and fulfill their civic responsibilities.
The programme was facilitated by a team led by GyCCE Director Deodat Persaud, Deputy Director Nareema Ali, and Programme Coordinators Sherry Mangru and Cholaram Doodnauth.
Delivering the feature address, Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana, Feroze Khan, said leadership is not a destination but a lifelong journey.
“This YOUthEngage592 badge is not the end—it is the beginning. A symbol that says: I am ready to serve. I am ready to lead. I am ready to build a better West Berbice, and a stronger Guyana,” Khan said.
He added: “Let me be clear: you don’t need to move to Georgetown to make an impact. You don’t need to be a politician to lead change. You need heart. You need purpose. And you need to remember what you’ve learned over the last three months—leadership begins with showing up and never giving up.”
GyCCE Director and Founder, Deodat Persaud, charged graduates to continue their journey of active leadership.
“Over the past three months, you have not only learned about leadership—you have lived it. You’ve shown up, spoken up, and stepped up. And in doing so, you’ve begun a transformation—not just of yourselves, but of your communities.”
He also reminded participants that leadership does not always come with a title or a podium, pointing out that it means standing up for what is right when no one else will, listening deeply, serving humbly, and doing the difficult work of building bridges in divided spaces.
Persaud also welcomed the recent call by Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for Civic Engagement to be taught in schools, affirming the importance of preparing youth to lead change from an early age.
As part of the programme’s capstone, each school team completed a community impact project. The Best Project Awards went to Rosignol Secondary School for the rehabilitation of a volleyball court, and Woodley Park Secondary School for the construction of an incinerator to improve school sanitation and environmental care.
With the successful graduation of the Region Five cohort, the YOUthEngage592 Leadership Training Programme continues to expand its reach. The programme now moves to Region 10, as GyCCE deepens its commitment to civic leadership development across Guyana, the release said.