National Youth Corps:

Strengthening peaceful co-existence

The recently concluded Grand Passing out Parade of the National Youth Corps (NYC) which was held at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, 4500 youth who have completed six months Personality Development training at 38 NYC Centres were on procession. Distinguished guests, departmental heads of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Skills Development and the entire staff of the NYC network participated at the event.

Moreover, two of the best trainees selected from the respective districts (male/female) totaling 16 received awards and certificates from the President for their outstanding talents.

Established by Parliament Act No.21 of 2002, the NYC, under the purview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Skills Development, today is the main training institution of the state, for Personality Development and Vocational Training of Youth.

With the aim of boosting discipline, leadership and personality of the youth spread out throughout the country, the annual training of the NYC comprises two six month sessions, and is effectively implemented with the annual education plan well linked with the relevant syllabi.

Subjects such as Squad Drill & Physical Education, Vocational Guidance & Management of Life Skills, Personal Leadership & Enhancement of Psycho-Social skills, English and Tamil Languages, Information Technology and especially Aesthetic Appreciation, have been profitably and experimentally included in the syllabus.

With an island wide network of 38 centers and a Training Centre established especially for outbound activities, the annual training target supports 15,000 youth. Further, there are 540 Graduate Counselors and Squad Drill Instructors actively supporting the programme.

Those between ages 18 -28, who although having completed school education and have no possibility for higher education, but yet in need of productively shaping their young lives for the benefit of the country, and have been selected as trainees to follow the Basic Course designed for them at the NYC Centers, are recipients of a Rs 3000 allowance from the government.

Further, whilst they are also eligible to receive the Personality Development Training Certificate at the completion of the Basic Course, in parallel the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) 1 Certificate is also available.

In addition, as per their vocational aptitudes, they are directed towards state and private enterprises for requisite vocational training. Moreover, the youth who undergo such vocation training are paid an allowance of no more than Rs 10,000 by the government during such training.

Furthermore, while the responsibility of finding employment for them fall on the shoulders of those institutions that provided the training, at least 70 % of those thus trained are invariably found employment by those institutions. There are 25 areas where the youth consequently have been provided with employment.

The NYC, throughout the year conducts Individual Achievement & Leadership Training for staff of external institutions as well as for school leaders.

In addition, the NYC training boasts of an excellent performance record of consistent Community Development programmes as well as projects engaged in strengthening peaceful co-existence between communities throughout the year.

Further, bringing together trainees with aesthetic talents, the NYC is currently successfully assembling a unique National Youth Chorps.

The NYC, twice a year celebrates in a grand manner the completion of the Basic six months Personality Development Training Programme by the youth.

This colorful and grand Passing Out Parade, is modeled on the lines of a military passing out parade. In the recent period, it has been conducted on a provincial level and with the participation of the relevant distinguished political authorities in a festive and celebratory manner.

It was the tradition for the parents of the trainees to attend in significant numbers. Here whilst the trainees who were passing out accorded the distinguished guests a Guard of Honor, the youth who had been identified as outstanding trainees at the various NYC centres were presented with awards and certificates.

Today, it is with great enthusiasm and anticipation, the NYC and its chairman have planned and organized the grand passing out parade of youth of the first batch for year 2012, to be held under the distinguished presence of the President, on the invitation of the Minister of Youth Affairs & Skills Development, Dallas Alahapperuma.