Private Sector urged to host exposure tours, mentorship for Govt’s BIT programmes

Labor Minister Joseph Hamilton has called upon the Private Sector to open their businesses for exposure tours and to volunteer their time as mentors, urging deeper engagement with ongoing Government Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programmes.
This appeal came on the heels of the recent launch of the Guyana Ignite programme at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown, in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the Male Empowerment Network (MEN), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-Youth Resilience Inclusion and Empowerment (Y-RIE) programme.

The collaboration will provide comprehensive professional development and workforce readiness for at- risk youth residing in communities, such as Sophia, New Amsterdam, Charlestown, Werk-en-Rust and Albouystown.
Hamilton emphasised that the inclusion of the Private Sector in BIT’s ongoing projects is crucial for the success and expansion of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the future generation.
“I call upon our Private Sector partners to open their businesses for exposure tours, volunteer their time as mentors, and engage more deeply with our programmes,” he stated.
He highlighted that data from the National Apprenticeship Scheme indicates limited involvement from the Private Sector, which can hinder efforts to address mismatches in the labour market.
“The data from our National Apprenticeship Scheme highlights the limited Private Sector involvement, which can impact our ability to reduce mismatches in the labour market,” Hamilton added.
The Guyana Ignite programme aims to foster youth empowerment and resilience through collaborative efforts between the Government, Private Sector, and international partners. Minister Hamilton’s call to action seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that young people are better prepared for the workforce.
Some 90 trainees will benefit from the Guyana Ignite programme. The initial stage of Guyana Ignite programme will be for 10 weeks and will focus on employability skills training with essential topics, such as effective communication, values and goals, self-care, and exploring personal talents and passions.
After the first phase, participants will learn about entrepreneurship, employment and technical and vocational education and training programmes.
Hamilton attended the launch accompanied by CEO/Secretary for BIT, Richard Maughn, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Nateica Garraway, United States Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Adrienne Galanek, and Tiffany Daniels, Country Director of Y-RIE & Ignite.
The Guyana Ignite programme represents a significant step forward in a mission to empower the youth of Guyana.