Addressing Youth Violence in Guyana
Youth violence is a tragedy that plagues many countries and Guyana is no exception. One of the root causes is the lack of adequate care and supervision of children and youth who have had to learn to “fend” for themselves at an early age and some have used violence and petty crime as a coping strategy. The DRIVE initiative is currently being implemented in communities in Georgetown, Region 3 and Region 6 and represents a comprehensive approach to addressing juvenile delinquency by providing diversion opportunities to steer youth away from a life of crime. Prevention through education, early intervention through support programmes, and rehabilitation through family and community-based initiatives are essential components of a holistic approach to combatting youth violence.