Skills training programme launched for at-risk youths
Some 80 youths in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) would benefit from a Guyana Government skills training programme targeting at-risk persons.
YouthBiz 592 Entrepreneurship Skills Training Programme was launched on Thursday at the Vryman’s Erven Training Centre in New Amsterdam, Berbice. It is a pilot programme sponsored by a grant of some US$430,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through a technical cooperation agreement in support of the Citizen Security Strategy (CSS).
Ministers Khemraj Ramjattan, Dominic Gaskin and Nicolette Henry, along with IDB officials and participants at the launch of the skills training programme for at-risk youths
The programme will see 40 at-risk youths from Region Four and another 40 from Region 6 undergoing relevant skills training.
The programme arose out of an initiative by the Ministry of Public Security, which had seen the need for collaborating with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Business. Its core goals include at-risk youths being positioned to become economically self-sufficient and to play positive roles within their communities, and assessing how such a pilot intervention can prepare young people for productive livelihoods and discourage involvement in risky behaviours, crime and violence. It also focuses on enhancing the capacity of the Small Business Bureau and other Government stakeholders in developing projects of a similar ilk.
The IDB has contracted the services of an international group, called Youth Build USA Inc, and the local group Small Business Bureau to execute the training of the young people and to do the assessment of the project.
The pilot programme, which will last some three months, will see direct benefits from entrepreneurship skills training and coaching on how to start up a business. Life skills and leadership training are also incorporated in addition to psycho- social support.
A startup grant of US$1500 would also be made accessible and available to participants.
Speaking at the launching ceremony were Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, and Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry.
Officials from the IDB, Youth Build USA Inc and the Small Business Bureau were present at the launching ceremony.
