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by Nicole Telford
In recognition of the 13th annual International Youth Day, two influential women in Guyana, Maritime Lawyer and APNU/AFC Opposition Parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir and Education Technology Doctoral Candidate and Founder of STEMGuyana, Karen Abrams, engaged in a discussion about youth representation in Guyanese society on Walton-Desir’s Moving Forward Podcast.
Walton-Desir, citing UN statistics regarding the global youth population, emphasized that nearly half of the world’s population is under 30 years old, a demographic expected to grow to 57% by 2030. She pointed out that while the world reflects on the significance of International Youth Day, Guyanese youth grapple with a constantly evolving technological landscape, socioeconomic disparities, educational gaps, and various global challenges. She posed the question to Abrams: “Why is it so important, at this juncture of our national development, to focus on this vital demographic and invest in our youth?”
In response, Abrams emphasized the importance of investing in youth, stating that it involves preparing the next generation to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s future development. She highlighted a two-pronged approach, starting with the downside of neglecting such investments. Neglecting youth education could lead to an undereducated population, increased juvenile crime, a rise in teen pregnancy, and a potential crime crisis. She explained that the cost of addressing these consequences, such as building larger prisons and implementing extensive social welfare programs, would be substantial. Therefore, she argued that it is more sensible to invest upfront in educational programs, counseling, and creating opportunities for young people.
Walton-Desir, acknowledging the cost of neglecting youth empowerment, resonated with the concept of opportunity cost as a policymaker. She suggested that as a nation, Guyana should decide which cost it is willing to bear and which bills to pay. She believed that adopting this approach as a guiding principle for investing in youth and human capital would lead to a change in attitude. She then asked Abrams about the challenges she had encountered while working on the STEMGuyana program, given its extensive reach across the country.
Abrams explained that STEMGuyana’s goal is to ensure that young people from all walks of life and communities have the opportunity to develop their technological skills. She emphasized the importance of not limiting opportunities to top schools but instead making technology education accessible nationwide. She argued that there is talent everywhere and that their philosophy revolves around providing equal access to technology knowledge, as technology underpins the development of all sectors of Guyana’s economy.
Walton-Desir inquired about whether young people’s use of smartphones is understood as a means to leverage creativity and innovation. In response, Abrams noted that while young people are often drawn to the front-end aspects of technology, the true essence and gains lie in the back-end aspects, such as coding and problem-solving. She emphasized the importance of nurturing critical skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and confidence. These skills are crucial for any future industry, which will likely be technology-driven.
Abrams also stressed the need for young people to be self-confident, unafraid of taking risks and unburdened by the fear of failure. She highlighted the importance of recognizing and valuing the potential of all young people, not just the top achievers, as essential for building future leaders and contributors to society.
Finally, Abrams discussed STEMGuyana’s efforts to reach young people through learning pods, which provide educational resources, robotics, coding lessons, and essential skills to students across the country, including those who may not excel academically. She expressed a commitment to ensuring that every young person in Guyana has access to technology education and personal development opportunities.
Abrams acknowledged the support she had received from her husband, who shared her vision for empowering Guyanese youth, as well as her children, who played a pivotal role in co-founding the Stem Guyana program. She emphasized that STEMGuyana’s success was a collective effort, with contributions from various individuals, including former First Lady of Guyana, Sandra Granger, and members of the diaspora who raised funds to support the program’s capacity-building initiatives for Guyanese youth.
