FESS Unit Hosts Youth and Family Violence Training to Counter Violence Among Young People and Families

The Family Enhancement Services Section (FESS) of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Wednesday commenced a two-day Youth and Family Violence Training Conference at the Regency Hotel.

The training has brought together 35 dedicated professionals from across the Ministry, including FESS, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), and the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU), along with officers from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education.

This collaborative initiative aims to strengthen partnerships, deepen understanding, and foster dialogue on effective strategies to support youth and families across Guyana, while addressing and preventing violence in schools and homes.

Delivering opening remarks, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, underscored the importance of tackling youth and family violence as a critical component of national development.

“This will be a very productive and fruitful session where you, as professionals, can pool your ideas, share creative and innovative suggestions, and collectively move in a strategic direction to eradicate violence among youths. Together, we can develop coordinated strategies that drive us toward the same goal,” Minister Persaud stated.

She further emphasised the need to address the root causes of youth violence from an early stage, highlighting that every individual and agency plays a vital role in the solution.

“Violence among youth continues to be a pervasive issue both globally and here in our country. To truly gain an in-depth and balanced understanding, we must look at its root causes and address them comprehensively, family by family, community by community, and collectively as a country,” she said.

Minister Persaud also noted that empowering young people requires creating an enabling environment that fosters encouragement, motivation, positivity, and inclusion, one where they feel valued, heard, and supported to reach their full potential.

The Ministry, through its partnership with USAID, has since introduced the YSET test under the Y-RIE programme, which focuses on building resilience and empowering at-risk youth. 

Additionally, six youth-friendly spaces have already been established, with a goal of expanding to ten by the end of the year. 

The Ministry has also launched a national anti-bullying and body-shaming campaign in schools to promote positive behaviour and self-esteem among students.

Facilitator of the training, Lauristan Choy from the University of Guyana, explained that the initiative is designed to enhance understanding of family dynamics and strengthen coordinated responses across systems.

“Youth and family violence present complex challenges that intersect the justice and child protection systems. Many young people are victims, witnesses, or even perpetrators of violence within their families. This training seeks to close systemic gaps and develop more effective, unified interventions,” Choy explained.

During the morning session, participants engaged in meaningful discussions with Minister Persaud, sharing valuable insights and recommendations based on their experiences working directly with youth and families.