'Urban Youth' program:

Awareness campaign against smoking a success - NYSC Chairman

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The National Youth Services Council (NYSC) launched 'Urban Youth' in Colombo, to create awareness among youth about the dangers of drugs and other intoxicating stuff. The awareness program carried out among youth against smoking has been successful and the number of youth smokers have declined, NYSC, Chairman Lalith Piyum Perera said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

He expressed confidence that the 'Urban Youth' program will make a major change among the youth.

Q: Can you explain the awareness programs implemented to make youth aware about the dangers of drugs and community diseases?

A: The NYSC is the only Government institution which works for the well-being of youth. We have taken all steps to protect youth from getting addicted to drugs and becoming victims of community diseases.

It will take some time to achieve our goal. The NYSC conducts awareness programs across the country against HIV and AIDS targeting youth. It has implemented a program under the theme 'Sexual and Reproductive Health' for youth.

Early guidance for youth is necessary. Based on this concept youth club members are enrolled from 13 years onwards. There will be no use talking about it after things have happened.

We conducted debates and awareness campaigns about HIV and AIDS among youth countrywide. A special lecture will also be conducted on this topic. The country's future is in the hands of healthy youth.

Non-communicable disease is another problem youth face. The NYSC has implemented a program with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Health Ministry. This program is being implemented successfully.

Q: What solutions do you have for today's youth problems?

A: Youth are an invaluable resource for the development of the country. They must also be made the stakeholders of the country's development process. Within the past three and half years the NYSC has implemented various programs to build up the personality of youth and convert them into a development resource.

We hope to connect youth in the process of nation building. The NYSC was earlier considered as a social service institution.

It has now turned into an institution which produces innovative youth who can help the country achieve sustainable development goals.

Various personality building programs were implemented for youth in the past. For instance President Mahinda Rajapaksa introduced the concept 'Skill for life and jobs for skills' to empower youth.

Q: Can you explain the history of the National Youth Services Council?

A: The National Youth Services Council (NYSC) is one of the oldest Government institutions in the country. It has a long history of over four decades. It functioned as a Government institution with the mediation of then Governments and were engaged in youth service.

The turning point in the life of youth of this country came in 2009. They received a peaceful country where all facilities were provided for the development of youth. The Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) was a milestone in the life of the youth of this country.

Q: What are the programs you have implemented?

A: "I was appointed hairman of the NYSC in 2010. Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was also appointed in the same year before I was appointed as the Chairman of NYSC.

We were assigned enormous duties such as drafting plans suitable for the country and youth. We felt the necessity of preparing youth in a manner suitable for 2010. The Youth Services Council may have done so many things for the sake of youth in the past. With a view to construct a youth generation we decided to re-brand the National Youth Service Council as Sri Lanka Youth. We drafted and implemented various youth empowerment programs.

We were assigned the task of modifying and redefining the activities of NYSC to suit all segments of youth across the country. We drafted many plans to improve the skills of youth. Several regional level youth capacity building camps were conducted. After the country was united, the NYSC was assigned with enormous responsibilities.

The Youth Affairs Ministry had been affiliated with Sports and Samurdhi Ministries earlier. For the first time Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry was formulated along with the Vocational Training Authority. The new concept helped to bring Sri Lanka to a prominent place in the international arena.

Q: What is the present state of youth clubs across the country?

A: Till 2010 Youth Clubs of Youth Federations was the main youth movement. The activities of youth clubs had come to a halt and were in a state of dieing a natural death. We had a challenge to protect the NYSC and further develop it. It was not an easy task.

Today's youth are totally different from the youth of the 1980s or 1990s. Their attitudes are so different. They are in a different society. The main duty of youth clubs is to carry the message to youth in society.

We improved the activities of youth clubs across the country. Facebook has turned into a main communication mode of youth today. We increased the number of on-line youth clubs over Facebook. All activities including leadership training, career guidance and counselling can be carried out on line.

The new trend is to cater to the needs of youth at their door step and the NYSC is doing its job well. The success of NYSC depends on the success of youth. We have also set up youth clubs in the Mullaitivu and the Kilinochchi districts. The Youth Parliament provides leadership training to youth.

Q: Does globalisation have a negative impact on youth?

A: The main role of the NYSC is to prevent youth getting involving in anti social activities. Youth clubs are set up to ease the duty of the NYSC. The development of the country can be expedited only through developing the skills and personality of the youth. Challenges can be overcome. The youth should be brought up in a manner to face any challenge.

We have instructed Youth Service officers to maintain gender equity in youth clubs. We have given a quota for the number of females, a youth club should have.

In leadership camps many problems faced by youth were redressed and were given proper training how to behave with outsiders and events. Special English programs are conducted to improve the proficiency in English.

Q: Can you explain the programs implemented by the NYSC along with the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry.

A: Nearly 16 institutions function under the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry including the NYSC. The service extended by the NYSC towards the youth is immeasurable. It extends a helping hand to bring out the innate talents of youth. Year to year it introduces new programs for the well-being of youth across the country.

Several parties are involved in implementing the plans of the NYSC. It is a team work and can't be implemented alone. Due to its efficient service the NYSC was shortlisted in the SLIM awards competition.

Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma extends his fullest cooperation to implement youth empowerment programs countrywide. He gives guidelines and instructions from time to time. We should understand that in 2009 the youth received a new country.