The central role of young people in shaping Guyana’s development highlighted during University of Guyana-UN youth dialogue

The Youth Dialogue between the University of Guyana and the United Nations brought together students, faculty, and development partners for a focused discussion on youth participation in national development. The event offered young people the opportunity to engage directly with the UN system, reflect on their role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and share perspectives on the issues affecting their communities.

The dialogue formed part of the UN's broader commitment in Guyana to support youth engagement, as outlined in the UN Youth Strategy. In his remarks David Davidsson, Economist in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, emphasised that Guyana’s relatively young population presents a significant opportunity for long-term development. He noted that the country’s demographic profile can support a “demographic dividend if policies and systems support young people to reach their full potential, whether through education, better health, employment opportunities, innovation and more.”

He also highlighted ongoing UN engagement with diverse groups of young people, including youth with disabilities, young women, indigenous youth, young entrepreneurs, young people living with HIV, LGBTI youth, and faith-based leaders. Davidsson referenced examples of youth contributions such as product development and training for small businesses, agriculture-related services that expand local production, adolescent and youth-friendly spaces and mental health and psychosocial support programmes.

These examples illustrate how youth engagement aligns with broader global frameworks such as the UN Pact for the Future, which includes commitments to expanding youth participation in public life, improving access to education and skills, supporting youth leadership in climate action and peacebuilding, and strengthening digital opportunities.

Students from the Bachelor of Youth and Community Development (BYD) programme actively contributed to discussions on youth-led development pathways. According to Programme Coordinator Lauristan Choy, “The Youth Dialogue with the United Nations was a powerful and timely engagement that reinforced the importance of youth participation in national and global development processes.” He stated that the students “represented the values and competencies at the heart of our programme” and demonstrated the type of leadership that youth development requires.

Throughout the dialogue, students worked in groups to examine challenges and propose practical approaches to strengthening youth involvement in policymaking and community development. This included reflections on education, employability, health, gender equality, and climate resilience.

Choy explained that the dialogue “provided experiential learning, strengthened advocacy skills, and encouraged critical thinking.” He highlighted that the engagement allowed students to deepen their understanding of youth policy and connect academic learning with real-world development processes. He noted that the collaboration with the UN System “highlighted the value of sustained partnerships in youth development” and affirmed a shared commitment to building systems that elevate youth leadership.

Reflecting on the experience, Choy stated that the dialogue “validated the need for professionally trained youth workers” and underscored the relevance of programmes such as BYD, which prepare a new generation of practitioners who support empowerment, inclusion, and sustainable community development. He also expressed optimism about continued collaboration, saying, “We look forward to continued collaboration, ongoing dialogue, and expanding opportunities for our students to participate in national and international youth development initiatives.”

The event closed with a call for ongoing engagement. Students were encouraged to contribute to the shaping of the UN’s next phase of cooperation in the Caribbean and to participate actively in future forums.