Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4267/-1/140/
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Plans To Professionalise Youth Development Work
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The Department of Youth and Culture and the Ministry of Social Development have endorsed efforts by the regional youth development agency, the Commonwealth Youth programme - Caribbean Centre and its partners, to professionalize youth development work.
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Group hard at work
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Ms. Glenyss James, Programme Manager Youth Work Education and Training at the CYP-CC, summed up the process and purpose of the standards by stating that:
“The youth development worker must be allowed to craft a career governed by acceptable occupational standards and competencies that promote professionalism in youth development work. CYP-CC in partnership with NCTVET, Jamaica has developed draft competency standards for youth development work.
“The standards will identify worker competencies and provide:
- labor market information on job requirements
- a foundation in determining appropriate standards
- guidance for monitoring of training and assessment of youth development workers”.
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Some of the younger participants
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At the two-day consultation held at Paradise Cove from the 17th – 18th January, participants were asked to assess whether the units adequately reflected the necessary competencies youth development workers should have if they are to effectively facilitate the personal, social and educational development of young people.
Present at the consultation were representatives from government departments, civil society organizations and individuals with expertise in the area.
Mr. Rodney Rey, Permanent Secretary Education, Sports, Youth and Culture acknowledged that, “success in youth development work will come when youth workers develop the requisite competencies and certification to engage in youth work.” He also confirmed government’s commitment to “providing the resources for institutional strengthening, human resource development and programme development and delivery.” In highlighting this commitment he brought to the fore recent decisions and actions by the Ministry and Department of Youth and Culture. These included: “provision of resources for a staff of 7, provision of resources for skills development and support of community based youth groups and a commitment to the development of a dynamic strategic youth development plan.”
Anguilla is the thirteenth country, among the 18 commonwealth Caribbean nations, to review the standards. In his remarks, Mr. Joash Proctor, the Director of Youth and Culture, place the process in perspective and pointed out that the current process is part of a broader process that has implications for regional and national development.