NINETY-ONE youth who completed life and work skills training – called Work Ready Now! – through the USAID Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) programme, were recognised for their accomplishment on Thursday last. Representatives from the US Embassy, Ministry of Education, the private sector, civil society, and parents of the graduating youth were present at the event.

Speaking to the youth, who came from Regions 3, 4, 6 and 10, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy, Mr. Bryan Hunt commended them for “showing commitment to improving their lives and being prepared to work towards their own success”. Mr. Hunt also recognised the commitment of the programme’s many partners in government, private sector, civil society, the magistracy and local government who are “working and collectively striving to create an environment that can support the success of all Guyanese youth”.
USAID SKYE Livelihood and Employability Coaches will continue to advise and guide youth in their efforts at finding and keeping employment. Partnerships with private sector employers and Chambers of Commerce play a central role in these efforts.
According to a statement from the Georgetown-based U.S. Embassy, members of the private sector have consistently assisted the USAID SKYE programme in developing and refining training materials and practices, and have offered many opportunities for young men and women to work towards realising their hopes and ambitions.
The SKYE programme focuses on youth, mainly young men, who are school dropouts, youth who completed formal education but do not have the necessary skills to find employment, and youth involved in the juvenile justice system. To date, a total of 740 youth have completed life and work skills training and 270 youth have been placed into full-time employment.