“Youths in Natural Resources” visits Aurora Gold Mines
As part of their scheduled learning experience, 16 young men and women participating in the Ministry of Natural Resources’ apprenticeship programme dubbed “Youths in Natural Resources” were given an up-close look at mining when they toured the mining and milling operations of the Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) on Wednesday, after accordingly being briefed by staffers of the company.
Fatima Karim, an aspiring petroleum engineer, said the experience has left her somewhat uncertain about which of the natural resources’ industries she should choose to work in.
The “Youths in Natural Resources” participants being briefed by AGM officials before touring the mines and mill
“What this trip has done is that it has made me become more interested in the field of mining, and I’m thinking that maybe it has changed my career path,” Karim was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.
Karim explained that she would like to develop a form of technology that would make mining environmentally safe. More importantly, this visit has clarified for her misconceptions in regard to the mining industry.
“(Mining is) not a very environmentally dangerous (industry). They do their best to make sure that the environment is kept in the same (condition),” she opined.
The AGM is one of the sponsors of this Ministry of Natural Resources’ inaugural apprenticeship programme. “We were very enthusiastic about participating in that programme, primarily because one of our mandates from a CSR (corporate social responsibility) perspective is to make an onboarding of skills and interests in the industry,” Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer of AGM, Leon Roberts, said.
“Youths in Natural Resources” is a three-week programme designed to reverse the negativity associated with the extractive sector, while simultaneously stimulating interest among young people in the work of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
