by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) is reviewing the 2017-2022 Federal Youth Policy as the Policy for nears expiration (2022).
The Federal Youth Policy is a guiding document for youth development programming initiatives. The policy ensures that youth issues are considered in all aspects of decision making throughout government.
The policy’s purpose was to prioritise and strategise suggestions from data collected by a 2016 Youth Validation Survey conducted with participation from people aged 15-29.
The new survey will inform and shape the successive iteration of the federal youth poll; the department of youth is engaging young people again to participate in a survey: https://forms.gle/txkhsHvLuX1ZyFkf9
Director of Youth Empowerment Pierre Liburd addressed what the department hoped to achieve from the Survey.
“We are in the process of reviewing the current policy with the view to refresh and revamp it to ensure that first of all whether or not it’s relevant and what adjustments need to be made to it in order to shape a new policy that speaks to youth challenges, concerns, aspirations and so forth for the next five years,” said Director Liburd.
“Part of the process last time around was engaging the young people and getting their input on a number of matters. Basically, to get a feel of where the young people are; what their challengers are currently and what again are their [dreams, aspirations, suggestions and mindset] then and repeat the process now to see if there are any shifts that we need to focus on or address in this new policy and also give us an idea of what those shifts are and how we could improve our services, our programs to better address any gaps.”
The survey will remain open throughout the end of the year to facilitate as many responses as possible. However, Liburd shared that responses given on or before November 19 will be more likely to inform and shape the new policy.
“We’ll bulk everything and take a comprehensive look and adjust the policy according and finalise the policy going forward with that. But still, we’ll leave it open for anybody that might be a little bit last minute or behind, but there’s no guarantee that after November 19 that what is received after that will be injected into the policy.”
Liburd is calling on all people aged 12-29 to participate in the survey.
“I want to invite every single young person between the age of 12 – 29 to ensure that your voice is heard and take the opportunity to complete the survey… have your input into this foundational document that would help to guide youth development in St. Kitts and Nevis for the next five years. Don’t miss the opportunity.”
