Pioneer Youth Camps to start from Akuressa

Uditha KUMARASINGHE

AKURESSA: The first in the series of "Pioneer Youth Camps", a new concept introduced by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) to provide first hand information to rural youth on national youth development programmes will be held at the Nilwala College of Education, Akuressa from April 8 to 10.

A total of 2,121 youth representing the Southern Province are due to participate in this first ever pioneer youth camp, a NYSC spokesman told the Daily News yesterday.

The Southern Province youth convention held as a part of this programme is scheduled to commence under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 4.00 pm on April 9.

The spokesman said as outlined in the Mahinda Chintana, pioneer youth camps will act as a coordinating mechanism to educate youth on various national youth development programmes implemented by the Government to improve the creative talents of youth in relation to various fields.

Pioneer Youth Camps will also organise youth as Thurunu Shakthi pools while providing them an opportunity to meet and exchange views with youth who have similar talents.

These camps intend to open venues for youth to display and improve their creative talents while promoting youth attitudes to suit future trends, he said.

Discussions, lecturers, communication skills development programmes, cultural programmes and sports training programmes will be conducted during the three days of the youth camp.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga will inaugurate the Pioneer Youth Camps programme on April 8 at 2.00 p.m. All Ministers and politicians from Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts will also attend the inauguration.