25 benefit from electrical installation, life skills training

Over two dozen young men have graduated from an electrical installation and life skills training programme, taking them one step closer to becoming licensed electricians. The six-weeks programme, which was organised through a partnership between Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) and ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, saw 25 males from across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) graduating on Friday with certificates. With industry experts estimating that some 40,000 electricians are needed to adequately serve Guyana’s expanding economy, Executive Director of YCG, Dimitri Nicholson, says this training programme is just the first step on the path to becoming licensed electricians. In fact, he noted that previous beneficiaries of this programme have not only elevated themselves into becoming licensed professionals but also established their own businesses – something which the YCG Head touted to this new graduating cohort.
“This training itself prepares these young men to be apprentices of electricians, and with this certificate they now need to get licensed to work as an electrician. So, it’s not the certificate as much as their perseverance after the training to go get their licence from the GEI (Government Electrical Inspectorate) to become an electrician,” Nicholson stated. According to the YCG Executive Director, these young men have an advantage in upskilling themselves into fully licensed electricians given the demand in the local market. “I’m very happy for these young men who will become electricians in this country. And as we all see, buildings are going up everywhere. Many things are happening all over and the GEI says 40,000 electricians in the country… So, you have an advantage and we’re very appreciative that you’ve stuck with this training,” he told the graduates. Meanwhile, Community Relations Supervisor at ExxonMobil Guyana, Ryan Hoppie, emphasised the importance of investing in young people especially at a time when the country is bursting with opportunities. He recognised that the training programme aims at creating workforce readiness that is important for the continued growth and development happening in Guyana. “The opportunities that we see are growing all around us but they become more significant when people are prepared to take advantage of those opportunities. And this is what makes this programme so incredible and so important. It’s initiatives like these that really set you on course for the rest of your lives. And it’s more than just learning a trade, it’s about creating pathways to other things like employment and personal growth,” the ExxonMobil official noted.

The six-week programme included training in electrical safety and workplace practices, electrical tools and equipment, wiring and cable installations, and installation of switches, sockets and light fixtures, among others.
Head of the Product Compliance Department at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Quincy Troyer, noted that these skills carry great responsibilities. Electrical fittings and equipment are among the products monitored by the GNBS.
In fact, Troyer informed the young men that there 30 ISO Standards in the electrical field that they should become familiar with as they move onto utilise their newly-acquired skills. “This particularly is important because the use of substandard and unsafe electrical products can result in electrical shocks, fires, damage to properties, and in some cases, loss of lives. As you progress in this field, it is there important that you understand what to look for when purchasing or when using electrical products,” the GNBS official stated. In addition to the technical aspect, the participants also benefitted from critical life skills training such as in communication, public speaking and financial management – something that the participants hailed. One beneficiary said, “We learn about electrical works, and the importance of safety, safety tools, proper procedures and doing the job correctly. These are skills that I can carry with me throughout my career. But the training taught us more than technical skills. We learn about team work, communication, discipline, responsibility, punctuality and professionalism. Those qualities are extremely important… Programmes like this by Youth Challenge Guyana bring young people together and give us an environment where we can learn, grow and realise that we are capable of achieving more than we sometimes believe.”
According to the YCG Executives, the training programme targets young men specifically to not only produce electrical specialists but also male role models in the community.