$6.5M HEYS grant for Region 9 youths

Some 130 youths from 19 villages and communities in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) who participated in the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry’s Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) Programme received an additional financial boost to their respective businesses established under the youth programme.
Youths from 11 villages in South Central, Rupununi, and eight in Karasabai with existing businesses received their grants on Wednesday last in Shulinab and Karasabai.
Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, in her remarks to the youths said she is pleased with the overwhelming response the programme has received from villages and youths and is extremely proud of the success stories seen and heard from across the hinterland. She urged the youths to fully capitalise on the opportunity which will ensure they receive an improved standard of living.
Also present at the exercise were the Coordinator of the HEYS Programme, Junior Williams; Region Nine HEYS Monitor, Rohan Bishop; and the respective village Toshaos’ and senior Councillors.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has been evaluating the programme and from all indications the success stories are compelling and already villages have been lobbying to have a third cohort.
The Hinterland Employment and Youth Service, provided one year of training to 3795 youths in 222 villages over the last two years. This training allows for capacity building, strengthening of life skills, bolstering literacy and numeracy skills, creating self-awareness and building esteem, strengthening individual vocational interests and entrepreneurial aptitudes.”
Businesses range from cattle rearing, poultry rearing (broilers, layers and ducks), crops and vegetable farming, nursery (grafting of fruit trees), fishing, fish farming, sheep, goat and pig rearing, cassava bread/quinches/cassareep production, honey production, hardware stores, and a floating grocery store.