Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna – YERP
Ministry to Target Unattached Youth through YERP
The Ministry of Youth and Culture will be seeking to target unattached youth between 12 and 29 years of age, through its Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Programme (YERP). The YERP is being developed for implementation, in partnership with a number of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, more so the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Youth and Culture will be seeking to target unattached youth between 12 and 29 years of age, through its Youth Empowerment and Reintegration Programme (YERP).
This was noted by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Sherril O’Reggio Angus, in a report to the Human Resource Committee of Parliament, at Gordon House, today (January 19).
The Permanent Secretary explained that the programme is being implemented as a strategic response to the psychosocial issues being faced by youth, the lure of crime and violence, as well as the risk of an increased drop-out rate at the secondary level, which would likely result in an increased number of unattached youth.
“The YERP will seek to target adolescents and youth within the high school system and wider communities, who display maladaptive behaviours and those predisposed to such conditions that will heighten their chances of becoming involved in activities that will lead to delinquent behaviours,” Mrs. O’Reggio Angus said.
She emphasised that the programme is a driver to promote positive youth development, by focusing on youth in need of nurturing and attention.
“Aligning with the tenets of Positive Youth Development, all youth are invaluable to societal change, and are needed to propel economic and social development within the nation. The programme aims to achieve the following: a reduction in high school drop-out rate, reduction in the number of unattached youth, and increased self-efficacy, self-esteem and self confidence among targeted youth,” she added.
The YERP is being developed for implementation, in partnership with a number of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, more so the Ministry of Education.
First published on JIS
