FIFTY students comprising 28 girls and 22 boys last Sunday graduated from the Grove Kaleidoscope 10- week training programme which was sponsored by the Guyana Police Force ‘A’ Division Commander Senior Superintendent, Clifton Hicken and his wife, Ms. Indira Ramkisoon-Hicken at the Grove Community Centre ground.

The students hailing from the communities of Grove, Kaneville and Samatta Point, East Bank Demerara, were all presented with the various pieces of clothing and designed products they had made.

Attending the closing ceremony was Deputy Commissioner Mr. Balram Persaud; Commander ‘E’ Division Superintendent Calvin Brutus; and Deputy Commander (Ag) ‘A’ Divisional Deputy Superintendent, Wayne DeHearte, among others.

At the closing ceremony, the students showcased all that they had learnt which included fashion designing, dancing, and singing. They also displayed the designed clothing they had made.

Deputy Commissioner, Balram Persaud said that he was impressed with what he saw the students put out; he added that when he saw the students’ commitment as manifested in their work, it made him want to help communities more, which will continue to happen.

“Mr. Hicken through partnership in the force has had an idea of what he was doing and great ideas need wings. He has seen the formation of many projects that is a force policy to bring communities closer to us and almost all his projects have [been] deemed successes,” Persaud said.

However, the man who has been on the front line of the training programme, Commander Hicken, said that he was happy with the outcome of the programme; he said that every youth has talent and deserves a chance even if it is for a second time. The commander added that there is nothing that makes you happier than when you can invest in someone and he/she makes the best of it.

“Much has been given, much is expected; we designed this programme not to feed you with fish but for you to catch fish so it can be sustained. We will close this programme for the Christmas season, but we will open another in another community at the start of the New Year,” Hicken said.

The commander also said that he is comfortable with the budget that was spent to develop the students, because what they have seen is testimony to the talent that the community of Grove has.