The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is helping to improve the lives and livelihoods of at-risk youth within the Eastern and Southern Caribbean through high-impact partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable local solutions.

This was evident during a recent graduation ceremony of the Youth to Youth component of the USAID-funded Kari Yu! Youth Development and Juvenile Justice program in Suriname, which saw another 147 youth completing the program. This brings the total number of youth benefitting from the three-year initiative to over 1,000, with over 200 having secured employment as a result.

Pledging the United States Government’s commitment to safeguarding the future of the region’s youth and reversing trends of youth involvement in crime, Mission Director for USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Christopher Cushing, said that to date over US$240 million has been committed to improving regional security through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. He added that USAID was happy to have supported two complimentary initiatives in Suriname - the A Ganar sport for development initiative and Kari Yu!

Kari Yu!’s Juvenile Justice component greatly improved the treatment of Surinamese youth who are in conflict with the law. Mr. Cushing noted some 30 juvenile justice reforms were implemented and 112 social workers, prison wardens, psychologists, and directors of facilities were trained on reforms and procedures related to existing and new juvenile justice laws and codes.

A referral network, which includes 20 leaders of the NGO community and other government divisions, was established to support the social and economic reintegration of youth in conflict with the law. Eligible youth who are about to leave prison can now access relevant services through this network.

As youth unemployment increases across the region, Mr. Cushing identified a gap between education and skills demanded by the global market. “We must, therefore, together take urgent measures to ensure that youth are provided with skills allowing them to seize opportunities in the formal sector …providing quality life skills and education that prepares them to meet the demands of the market, increases their awareness of the world, builds their self-confidence, and enables them to become productive and successful members of society,” he said.

Graduates were provided with an opportunity to reach out to prospective employers during a Job and Opportunity Fair which followed the formal ceremony. In addition to visiting various booths and learning more about available job opportunities, youth also made five-minute pitches to select employers in an attempt to secure a formal interview.

Mr. Cushing reminded the graduates that Kari Yu! provided them with an opportunity to take ownership of their future. He added: “as you go forward in life, I would encourage you to allow the positive lessons you have learned from the training program to become habits in your everyday lives. When you couple the desire to achieve with technical skills, the world will be there for you to conquer as an employee, business owner or member of society,” the Mission Director advised.

Dhines Paulus, a recent Kari Yu! graduate, who has since gained employment at a security firm, stated: “Before Kari Yu! I didn’t see any way out of my situation, but I am thankful that Kari Yu! gave me a way out!”

The graduates also received words of encouragement from John Sanbrailo, Executive Director of the implementing partner, Pan American Development Foundation’s (PADF); Suriname’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Faizal David Abdoelgafoer; and President of the Chamber of Commerce, Henk Naarendorp, who delivered the feature address.

Kari Yu! provides skills and vocational training, job placements and coaching services to youth who are at-risk of dropping out of school or have been in conflict with the law.