A new initiative geared at exposing the positive work of the youth in Dominica was launched on Monday by the National Youth Council (NYC).
The NYC’s Youth Media Team, which comprises over twenty young people, is tasked with providing coverage for activities conducted by youth organizations and the empowerment of its members.
President of the NYC, Jahisiah Benoit, said that the team was put together to debunk the myth that youth in Dominica are only engaged in negativity.
“If you do not empower the young people to articulate their ideas, they will never develop the skill required to take up that mantle in the future,” he said. “We know that in Dominica the government, civil society and private sector do place high significance on youth empowerment. We can no longer believe the untruth that Dominica’s youth are disenfranchised, that Dominica’s youth are disassociated with the society that they are just naturally negative.”
He pointed out that the media team will give the young people the opportunity to expand their horizons in terms of career development.
Addressing the launch of the team, Minister for Youth, Culture and Sports, Justina Charles, stated that there are more positive things happening among the young people than the few negative things that are amplified.
She pointed out that the government of Dominica is encouraged by the levels of enthusiasm of the NYC and will meet the youth at their point of need.
“This for you is a way of empowering yourself. We want to commend all of you for taking this bold step… not often we find young people wanting to volunteer their time, but we have some of you who are really interested in doing that,” she said. “All of those activities that you are engaged in are adding to your own development, it’s adding to your CV to seek jobs, and that is going to serve as a reason why I want to engage such a person in my organization.”
Nester Phillip, Coordinator of the team, said its formation is a forward step for Dominica’s youth.
“This is a step towards ownership of our personal development and strengthening of our country’s democracy,” he noted. “The media team is operating at a time when advancement opportunities are available for all involved, at a time when Dominica and the international community is witnessing tremendous growth in Mass Communications.”
Phillip explained that the team will be active in the local media, on the world-wide web through social media, and other emerging digital communication channels. It will also serve as a platform for the youth to tell their stories in their own way, he noted.
Two main initiatives of the media team thus far include a youth page on Dominica News Online and a talk show dubbed “Youth, Camera, Action” to be aired on Marpin 2k4 from February 5th.
If there were more families like John and his family there would be less crime among our youths. So please anonymous i invite you and your family to get on board and stop grudging this family. Get to know them and you will learn a lot from them.
it seems that the MWAD was not involved in this.If so this is regrettable and therefore shows a bias. MR Benoit please remember that you represent all the Youth of Dominica
Very good…
There are a group of young men and women who pioneered the rebirth of this NYC which was dormant for decades and I think there efforts must be recognized. There is an invaluable resource within them and they were able to meet and overcome a lot of challenged during these very trying period of the 1990’s to revive the NYC.
They are the true pioneers and are quite deserving of commendations by the NYC for they paved the way for you all.
Congratulations to the NYC and Benoit for your tremendous efforts to push Da youths forward. Remember stalwarts like Delia Giddings , Colin Baptiste, Bernard Hurtault, Feliz Julien,et cetera and the contribution of SPAT BOSS Ronald Green and the members of the St Vincent Youth Council especially President Curtis King.
Congrats to the Dominican Youth! I am happy to learn that the Council is up and running. Stay positive!
Well Team Dominica will definitely take the concern of all Dominicans including the youths of this country seriously, and as much as possible try to address them.
LOVE YOU LENNY , THOMPSON JOSHUA AND TEAM DOMINICA!
How does Thompson, Joshua and the likes relevant to this story? The story is about the youth and how well they are doing and here you go injecting your politics and UWP? Come on enough of all these politics can’t you think without thinking of politics and the Team Dominica nonsense? Is Team Dominica the only team in DA and around the globe?
Like ur prime minister says non of ur damn buisness
I am still waiting for my earlier relevant and civilized reply to filter through the “moderation”
process!
It seem youth division belong to john and family
It is good to see that all John’s children are involved in youth and Community activities.Since the establisment of the Youth Division in 1972 the children of staff members of the Youth Division have been involved in youth organizations/activities thus contributing to their formation and development.God has rewarded us so far since our children continue on the straight and narrow path to success.This is one of the rewards we have received for the positive work we do with our Youth. We continue to inspire and guide many other youth like our children. We take pride in our work. I am happy that Khan is involved in something positive instead of some deviant activity. Khan and his other sibblings are involved like their parent while in high schoo in the 80’s.
We are forever grateful for the training and guidance given to us by Ms Alfred and Amoy Williams as Youth Officers
To have a positive influence on your children is all good. Why not?
This is very encouraging…it will force the media to take more notice of youth in action. I expect there will be more than enough material always available showing what the young people are doing.If this project is executed properly and meets the training and retooling objectives of potential media workers, we could even see a new credible MWAD emerging down the road. Cool
dats very good for the youth….keep it up