ONE hundred young people, in the 18th batch of the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme, graduated last Friday from the non-residential course at Sophia.

They were trained in Catering, Office Administration and Information Technology (IT), Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, Welding and Fabrication, Handicraft and Masonry.

Sixteen of them did Catering, 19 Office Administration and IT, 18 Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, 17 welding and fabrication, 17 handicraft and 13 masonry.

Each class had 20 trainees who were engaged in the six months stint from January 6 to July 24, 2009.

The best graduates were: Catering – Yonnika Browne; Office Administration and IT – Tracey O’Neal; Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning – Dhanraj Ramkissoon; Welding and Fabrication – Andel Shurland: Handicraft – Latoya Emanuel and Masonry – Donnecia Lowe.

All of them, between the ages of 16 and 25 years, concurred that the experience was good and would better their lives, having done 65 per cent practical and 35 per cent theoretical work.

While being coursed, the students also did attachments, including at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, the main speaker at the Carifesta Sports Complex graduation, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, said the training is not only about education but putting positives in the lives of the beneficiaries and giving them assurance.

He noted that the graduating students were the remainder from 133 who were shortlisted from 200 applicants, the others having left for reasons ranging from them being offered employment to indiscipline.

However, Anthony pointed out that those now certified were given a second opportunity to be educated, become employable or entrepreneurs and to engender a sense of national pride.

“This is the most important contribution that is being made by the Ministry, by giving youths another avenue,” he observed, asserting that the students leaving Sophia Training Centre are entirely different persons from those who entered.

“Like any other society, we have children who learn differently and the Ministry has demonstrated that other opportunities can be created,” Anthony said.

He added, however, that, neither the Ministry nor the Centre can undertake such a venture alone and the support of parents is also quintessential.

“When we help the children, we need the attitudes and values to be reinforced at home by parents,” Anthony told the audience.

He said the only way good results can be realised is if a team effort is exerted, enabling those who benefit from the process to be continuously productive, long after the training is finished.

Anthony challenged the newly qualified youths to see their achievement as a stepping stone to future successes.

“If you have an attitude for learning, you will be able to do anything you want,” he posited.

Administrator of the Sophia Centre, Mr. Brian King disclosed plans for its expansion.

He said it is planned to add two more disciplines, sheet metal or metal working and electrical installation, which have benefitted many individuals and are recognised as good career avenues for youths who need a second chance.

“We never turn away anyone because, when they apply, they have three options. So, if we are unable to facilitate their first choice, we have two others that they can get involved with,” King outlined.

He maintained, though, that the determining factor for success is hard work and challenged the graduated youths and those interested in the programme to appreciate that fact. (Vanessa Narine)