Forty young persons in Region 6 (East Berbice Corentyne) are benefiting from training programmes implemented by the
St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) and its partners in development from its network ‘Friends of St. Francis’.
Through a comprehensive project titled ‘Reforming Education, Skills and Capacity for Ultimate Empowerment’ – RESCUE and its nine sub- projects, the SFCD is providing training to young people to promote capacity building.
The primary objective of RESCUE is to enhance public trust, security, community development and inclusion of all citizens through the provision of various services.
The two new sub projects, ‘CELL’ and ‘REACH’, launched on Monday in Berbice seek to empower the residents of Region 6 by targeting specific areas of concern in the communities.
Project ‘CELL’ – Community Empowerment for Livelihood, was launched in the newly refurbished All Saints’ Presbyterian Church in New Amsterdam and seeks to become a permanent, accessible, modern and responsive developmental centre to offer services.
Addressing those gathered at the opening ceremony, Project Coordinator, Ms.Marian Tinnie pointed out that the one of the goals of the project is to improve the livelihood of more than 150 young persons in New Amsterdam by equipping them with the necessary skills to compete for jobs.
She said, “We are seeking to promote entrepreneurial skills to encourage self employment through training in several areas including Carpentry, Agriculture, Cooking, Home Care, Child Care,” adding, “We will help to remove them from the streets.”
The twenty young persons who completed a three week skills training programme in carpentry and masonry formed part of the construction team that worked on the refurbishing of the Community Center for the launch of Project CELL.
The Project Coordinator, in extending congratulations to the trainees who dedicated their time to the completion of the project, said, “Hats off to you for participating in this life changing experience.”
She revealed that more young persons will be exposed to training in Financial Management in New Amsterdam.
The emerging twenty trainees From the Mibicuri Community in Black Bush Polder, who are involved in the second Project REACH- Renewal Education for Agricultural Challenges, were applauded for their hard work and dedication to the agricultural programme they participated in.
RERACH Project Coordinator, Ms. Jacqueline Cummings Johnson stated that some of the participants travelled from as far as ten miles to attend the sessions.
She pointed out that twenty farmers in the community will be assigned to work along with the young people to enhance their skills, adding that they will also benefit from Micro Credit training.
Johnson said, “Our community is finding itself as young people emerging from a community with a high rate of suicide.”
She added, “We are embracing young people.”
At the end of the opening ceremonies, all of the trainees were awarded certificates of participation and tokens of appreciation for their commitment and dedication to the training programmes they completed.
To incorporate the youths of the Polder in empowerment opportunities to support their peers and elders alike, Project REACH was launched and includes a Green House Nursery Component.
On December 17th 2009, SFCD entered into a formal relationship with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its project arm, the Enhanced Public Trust, Security and Inclusion Project (EPTSI), for a two year relationship that would see Project RESCUE implemented at nine sites in Region six.