47 youths graduate from natural resources apprenticeship programme

Some 47 youths from across the country have graduated from the Youth in Natural Resources Apprenticeship Programme aimed at providing opportunities for young people to experience and learn about this critical sector and capitalise on job opportunities.

At the graduation ceremony held Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the Coordinator of YNR, Lorianne Pluck spoke of the significance of the event. “What we seek to do is to involve young people, young adults, preferably teens that are preparing for CXC or would have finished CXC, and introduce them into the natural resources lifestyle,” she posited.
Meanwhile, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Natural Resources Ministry, Vishal Ambedkar urged the apprentices to persevere to live successfully. “Be steadfast in all that you do despite the difficulties and delays in achieving your success. “It doesn’t matter what your goal is or how long it takes you to reach or achieve that goal, the chances of your success depend solely on you.”
Kenesia Roberts, one of the graduates, expressed that she valued the opportunity to acquire knowledge about Guyana’s natural resources sector, and to interact and engage with other youths who share her passion. The young woman shared, “Personally, the highlight for me would have been the sandpits. We visited the sandpits and what was amazing to me was how big the pits are and how many trucks there were collecting sand 24/7.

Another graduate, Michael McCloud, said this year’s programme was “very fulfilling.” According to him, “The biggest highlight for me was the trip to Iwokrama, the river lodge and research centre where we were exposed to road monitoring and the various monitoring through the rainforests, and what it takes to sustain it throughout the day and protect it.”

Roberts and McCloud are aspiring to secure careers in Guyana’s natural resources sector. This programme is set to kick off again next year when youths are set to work with agencies like the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission, ExxonMobil, MACORP, and other big companies that operate in Guyana’s natural resources sector.