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Samuel WhyteSome 36 youths who were part of the second batch of the President Barack Obama’s Caribbean Basin Security Initiative partnership training in Berbice, graduated on Friday at a ceremony held at the St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) New multipurpose training centre at Rose Hall Town,Bojan Bogdanovic Nets Jersey, Corentyne.US Ambassador D Brent Hardt,Andrew Bogut Mavericks Swingman Jersey, centre,Authentic Russell Westbrook Thunder Jersey, along with Mr. Jan Karpowicz, SKYE Chief of Party in Guyana and Executive Director of YCG Dmitri Nicolson with the graduates as they display their certificates and other tokens.The training which caters for out of school youths and those not in a job,Christian Laettner USA Jersey, saw the graduates being involved in the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) initiative which caters mainly for youths 15 to 24 years.SKYE is a project unit that is funded by the United States through USAID and is a core component of the US President Barack Obama’s Caribbean Basin security Initiative. It has so far been successfully implemented in Regions Four,Stephon Marbury USA Jersey, Six,Avery Bradley Celtics Swingman Jersey, Nine and Ten.The main aim is that those who would have and pass through and graduated from the programme will have the requisite skills from the “Work Readiness” training programme to be in a position to find jobs, some for the first time in their lives.The feature address was delivered by United States Ambassador to Guyana Mr. D Brent Hardt. In his feature address Ambassador Hardt who was also present at the launching ceremony congratulating the youths on enhancing their marketability and equipping themselves with skills that will enable them to be successful both in the workplace and life.He told them that they have been given a second chance and is happy that they are taking steps to grasp it and should do so with both hands. He told them that employers would value a strong work ethic, punctuality and personal hygiene which are some of the things taught by the SKPE programme. He also alluded to the fact that it is a programme through the initiative of President Obama and he is proud that his government can stretch its arm so far and wide and assist the not so fortunate.Also present were Mr. Jan Karpowicz SKYE Chief of Party in Guyana, Executive Director of YCG Dmitri Nicolson and Private sector representative Mr. Vishnu Doerga. Dwayne Mitchell, life skills and livelihood programme manager of the YCG,Chris Paul USA Jersey, was the chairman of the proceedings.The youths were trained over a six-week period at two training centres in East Berbice,Paul George USA Jersey, namely the All Saints Presbyterian Development Centre and the SFCD.The youths were presented with certificates which were distributed by Ambassador Hardt. Jamal Bennett was the best graduating student with Jacqueline Victor the runner and Marsha Rajram the most improved. They were presented with trophies and other tokens.The SKYE Project aims at employment, education and skill-building opportunities for youth at-risk. It also focuses on strengthening and re-integrated youths into society.Among some of the topics covered were personal development, interpersonal communication, leadership,Steven Adams Thunder Jersey, health and safety at work, customer care, rights and responsibilities, introduction to internship and financial fitness.The SKYE project which is a two-year programme is expected to come to an end in 2015 when over 1500 at-risk youths in the various regions are expected to be trained.SKYE has four implementation agencies or partners in Guyana namely –the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) which works out of Region Nine, Guyana Youth Business Trust (GYBT) which works mainly in Region Ten, Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) which operates countrywide and Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) which also operates countrywide.The Berbice segment of the programme is being implemented by the YCG with assistance from the SFCD. |
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