Haimaruni HEYS participants determined to make a difference

Excitement is high among 20 talented youths in Haimaruni in the Moruca sub-district, Region One (Barima-Waini) as the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) programme is changing the trajectory of their lives.
Following the completion of the first six months of the one-year program, there are already thriving businesses evident.

During a recent visit to the village, Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe visited three of the establishments and was very pleased with the efforts made by the youths there.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that a couple, Cleveland David and his partner, opened a snackette. The business is located in an area in the village where there is ongoing development of a tourism project. The project itself is located in close proximity to the Haimara Creek, a branch of the Waini River.
David said since the business opened its doors, the community has been very supportive and they would continue to work towards its expansion as they eagerly awaited the completion of the village’s tourism initiative, which would further boost their business venture.
Among other business initiatives undertaken are subsistence and poultry farming, fishing and a bakery. Agriculture ventures are on the increase as the youths are working individually and in groups to plant acres of farmland with cash crops and several permanent crops.
The secondary school, the school feeding programmes, the village and neighbouring villages will be among the groups and institutions supporting these ventures, according to the Regional Education Officer (REDO), Nigel Richards, who accompanied the Minister and her team to Haimaruni.
Parental involvement and support were also evident as parents continue to be active participants in ensuring their children’s business ventures are successful. One such example is a bakery established by two siblings, Shefiline and Shereen Smith. Their father sought the expertise of a villager who built a six-foot wooden oven, lined with aluminium sheets, which they utilise to bake delicious pastries, bread, salara, butter flaps, and much more.
The elderly Smith, who wears many hats, is a seasoned baker and three times a week he bakes a variety of foods and his daughters who have already built a long list of steadfast customers would venture into the village to sell their edibles.
Basil Cornelius, Senior Councillor of Haimaruni, satellite to the main village, Karaburi, acknowledged that parental support was a decisive factor in the success of the business ventures undertaken.
“They have started good initiatives that can work in the community and with continuous support coming from their parents, their business can be successful. A year from now, I see them having very successful businesses,” the Senior Councillor explained.
Minister Garrido-Lowe’s visit is noteworthy, since this is the first time in the history of the village that a sitting Minister of the Government has visited. The ministerial team was also ready to financially support a number of the businesses established, including the Smith’s bakery since the visit coincided with one of the scheduled baking days.
Members of the team were able to purchase snacks; drinks (sweet fly); salara; and butter-flaps which were hot out of the oven.
The Minister said she was proud that the youths have grasped the opportunity provided and were now venturing into small businesses which represented an important economic advancement which would ultimately change their lives.
“Our Government has invested a lot of money in our youths, to build capacity so that they can establish their own businesses and it’s really good to know that it’s working,” the Minister said.
Haimaruni, which has a population of approximately 150, was generally ignored by the past regime and for the first time (2018) the village will benefit from a presidential grant. Over the years, grants were used to fund projects in the mother village of Karaburi.
The HEYS Programme, which is the Ministry’s flagship youth programme, is aimed at giving Indigenous/hinterland youth a second chance at life, and following its implementation in 2015, close to 4000 youths from all ten administrative regions have benefited.
This would have seen Government budget almost $2 billion for the nation’s Indigenous youth.