As the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) continues to celebrate Youth Month 2016, under the theme E=MC2 “Energising Youth,” we focus on the annual observance of Youth Work Week, being commemorated this year November 7-13 under the theme “Empowering young people through sport and arts.’ The theme acknowledges the creative and innovative techniques that youth workers employ to deliver effective youth development and empowerment programmes.

Since its inception in 1993 Youth Work week is celebrated every November and sees over one hundred Youth Work Week events taking place across the globe including youth forums, employment workshops, conferences, award ceremonies and community events. The Commonwealth Secretariat encourages youth clubs, national youth councils, youth ministries, departments, commissions and national youth organisations, to get involved in Youth Work Week by hosting an event or activity for Youth Work Week.

Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2016

Launched in 2013, the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards celebrate outstanding youth workers across the Commonwealth who are instrumental to the positive development of young people.

This year’s shortlist showcases leading youth workers who use sport and creative arts to inspire and support the development of underprivileged adolescents and young adults.

The Youth and Adolescents Policy Division of the MOEYI recognizes the excellent work of the Youth work professionals from 14 countries (Australia, Belize, Fiji, Guyana, Jamaica, India, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Tonga and the United Kingdom ) who were named as the Finalists of the 2016 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards and offer special commendation to the Jamaican finalists, Gihon Mitchell and Michelle Thomas.

Gihon Mitchell – a Youth Empowerment Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and co-founder of the Jamaica Floorball Association, which uses sport to promote human rights among young people.

Michelle Alexis Thomas, founder of ‘HerStory’, an initiative that uses art therapy to empower young single mothers and women in Jamaica, Director of Cultural Programmes of JAYECAN, a national youth-led organisation focused on culture and art and member of the recently established Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica

#Energising the Youth Parliament of Jamaica

November 14, 2016 saw the eight sitting of the National Youth Parliament of Jamaica at Gordon House as part of this year’s Youth Month Activities. This was made possible through a joint effort between the Youth and Adolescents Policy Division of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and the Houses of Parliament. The Youth Parliament provides youth with an opportunity to express their views on various issues, network, and become involved in the process of democracy and governance at the local and national level.

After a rigorous selection process, over 70 young persons from across the island, representing more than 30 youth organisations were invited to attend an intensive three day workshop where they received training in research, policy formulation and analysis, advocacy, public speaking, communication and parliamentary procedure.

Prior to Mondays sitting, the Youth Parliamentarians decided on the three motions for debate. At the sitting, the motions, youth unemployment, climate change, and psychosocial care of youth were moved, passionately debated and eventually passed by the youth representing the government and the opposition.

Guests at the sitting included parents and friends of the parliamentarians, high school and university students, members of youth organisations and community youth groups. Greetings and remarks were offered from Clerk to the Houses of Parliament Heather Cooke; President of the Senate Tom Tavares-Finson; senior director, youth and adolescents policy division in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Michele Small Bartley; Opposition spokesperson on youth Lisa Hanna; State Minister Floyd Green; Minister of Education, Youth and Information Ruel Reid and speaker of the House of the Representatives Pearnel Charles Sr.