NCYD wants more nominations for PM’s Youth Awards

The National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD) is inviting more nominations for the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Excellence.
Director of Youth Policy and Programme at the NCYD, Roberta Brown Ellis, informed that 41 nominations have been submitted so far but there is need for more in the areas of leadership, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and sports.
She said that NCYD is trying to reach persons, who are excelling in these areas. “I do believe that there are more young people out there so we are making a concerted effort to get to them,” Mrs. Brown Ellis said at yesterday’s (October 27) JIS Think Tank.
“We are speaking with the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s (JAS) young farmers group, the Jamaica 4H Clubs, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and doing the necessary follow-up,” she said.
She stressed that there are many young Jamaicans, who meet the criteria set out on the nomination forms. “I believe that we have them. What causes them not to want to apply, I am not sure. We will probably have to do a research into that,” the NCYD Director said.
Meanwhile, she informed that the deadline for the submission of nominations, which was further extended to October 31, will remain. She stated that enough time is needed to interview the nominees and put the necessary arrangements in place for the November 28 award ceremony. “So, this is the final deadline,” she emphasised.
The Prime Minister’s award is a prestigious honour bestowed on young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years, who have excelled in the areas of agriculture, arts and culture, academics, entrepreneurship, leadership, international achievement, journalism, sports, and youth in service.
It is organised by the NCYD, which is the youth arm of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.