By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – A new Social Change Organization seeking to shift attitudes, values and resources towards the common good has been birthed with its focus being to create a society that seeks actively the involvement and opinions of young people.
Blue CAPS – that’s the name it goes by with its inherent philosophy based on the tenets of Change, Advocacy, Policy and Service, aims to provide a platform for young Guyanese citizens to leverage the opportunities available for developing their own roles in helping to shape and articulate public policy and finding solutions for problems affecting their communities and country.
The group realizes that while youths make up a significant portion of the population in Guyana, for many reasons, they are not actively involved in the development and drafting of policies that affect their lives hence it is now crucial that young professionals (under 40) become active participants in the policy development process.
“For a society to realize its full potential, Youths must become an integral part of the national dialogue and have a voice on all important topical issues facing the country. They must be involved in making meaningful contributions to this process, have their ideas, thoughts, and actions reflected in the strategic plans and policy framework which will help to advance Guyana for the benefit of its entire people.”
As part of it approach, the group aims to educate future leaders by encouraging young people to complete its signature “Building Communities through Leadership Training & Service” (BCLTS) Programme and volunteer and give back through the YES! (Youths Experiencing Service).
YES is the service component of the BCLTS to help bring about positive change through active community participation and problem solving, policy formation and advocating effectively through various forums on behalf of these policy proposals.
Those who complete the BCLTS programme will become Fellows of the Blue CAPS network and will continue to spread the mission of Change, Advocacy, Policy and Service.
The group summarizes that its mission is to educate future leaders who will go back to their communities to serve and develop solutions to solve problems and advocate public policy prescriptions that bring about change and development.
The group is expected to be objective and impartial, value diverse opinions, develop new leaders, respect each other, and cultivate a culture of trust and honesty, non-Discriminatory or prejudicial.
