– Graduates of Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Prog share their stories

By Vishani Ragoobeer
THE Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme (YEST) is a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scheme managed by the Ministry of Education- Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. This programme shares partnerships with many governmental and non-governmental organisations to give selected students an opportunity to be edified.Students who benefited from this programme shared their stories.

* Delon Gladstone (Vryman’s Erven Training Centre)
Gladstone, 17, from New Amsterdam, Berbice, became a part of this programme because as he said, he had “nothing else to do after CXC.” He noted that his elder brother also attended this institution and encouraged him to follow in his footsteps. He noted that since he was a young boy, he liked “loosing up computers” and he decided to give the programme a go. He opted to take the entry exam and he proudly noted that he passed with “flying colours.” He is from a single-parent family and as such shares a close bond with his mother and grandmother. He is grateful for what he has learnt and is the Top Performer for this year’s Information and Communication Technology Class.

* Tamuel Pyle (Sophia Training Centre)

Pyle, top performer for the Masonry Class, noted that he took a liking to masonry just because it seemed interesting. He said that he became integrated into this programme after being recommended to join by his brother. Pyle, not a boy of many words, noted that he was at home and not working and this aided him in making his decision to join the programme.

* Eon Gill (Kuru Kuru Training Centre)
Also not someone of many words, Gil noted that this programme is one which enables you to “develop yourself.” He said that he lives with his father, who works diligently to maintain the household. Gill said he didn’t do as well at his sitting of the CSEC examinations, and this was his second chance at success. As a result, he said he put in a lot of hard work and a lot of studying, so that he would be successful. Gill is the Top Performer for the Business Studies Class.

* Alex Alexander (Kuru Kuru Training Centre)

Top performer in the Furniture-Making Class, Alexander noted that he relished the idea of furniture-making. He said that it is an interesting field and one which isn’t given too much attention. He noted that the YEST programme provided him too with a “second chance” as he was unable to write the CSEC examinations, because he was expelled from the Leonora Secondary School. He said that he took full responsibility for his expulsion as he knew that he was engaged in fighting, but he noted that it was the bus conductor who had “violated” him. He began this programme, hoping that he would be able to make his family proud and to qualify himself.

* Yonette Joseph (Kuru Kuru Training Centre, KKTC)
Joseph, one of the few females in the KKTC’s Furniture-Making Class, noted that people say that this field is for boys, but she believes that women can do it as well. The 19-year-old noted that it was “fun” working with the boys and hopes that one day she can open her own business in this field. Joseph, who is from Kurukabaru Village, Region Eight, has an eye for business and noted that she devoured the opportunity to learn a skill that would lead, to what she feels, would be a lucrative business. She comes from a family that lives mostly on farming.

* Shelly Henry (Kuru Kuru Training Centre)

This 17-year-old happened to be one of the two females that underwent training for Motor Mechanics. Henry said that as a child, she found mechanics very interesting and liked “fixing up old things.” She said that she dropped out of the Port Kaituma Secondary School and did not write the CSEC examinations. However, since she was unqualified, she took the opportunity to do a course and learn a meaningful trade. She said she plans to write the CSEC Mathematics and English, but has no plans for her future beyond that. She noted that working with the boys was a fun-filled experience.

* Carlos Johnson (Kuru Kuru Training Centre):
Johnson, 19, a top performer for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Class, sought to be integrated into this programme after his mother died on the 20th May, 2015. He decided that if he wanted to help improve the lives of his three sisters, he would first have to develop himself. He noted that he didn’t write the CSEC examinations because of peer pressure, financial difficulties and that he just never saw the importance of education- at least not until now. He dropped out of school and began doing some work in the air-conditioning field. However, he said that his mother’s passing made him realise the importance of education. Carlos is currently seeking employment in the form of a part-time job, so that he would be able to attend the GTI to do a two-year course in this field.

* Daniel Hinds (Kuru Kuru Training Centre)

Valedictorian of this centre, Daniel Hinds, noted that the programme provided him with another opportunity at elevating himself. The 16-year-old noted that he had dropped out of school when he was in third form, because was attending a private schooling institution and it was financially challenging to continue attending the school. He noted that he had to attend a private school because all other government schools were far from his Canefield residence. Hinds said that he was at home basically doing nothing productive and he picked up the habit of smoking. He however noted that since he joined the KKTC, he cut the bad habit and dedicated himself to his pursuit of knowledge in the Plumbing and Sheet Metal fields. The young man said that he will either seek to join the police force or continue working at DDL- where he was attached on a Work/Study programme.

* Denzel David (Sophia Training Centre):
Runner-up for the catering category, this young man noted that he became interested in this field because “Guyana doesn’t have a lot of male chefs” and he likes the culinary field. This 17-year- old noted that as a young boy, he was just “bad and troublesome” and as a result, he dropped out of school in third form. Being the only boy in a class of 21 girls, was a challenge. David is currently working at the Palm Court as a kitchen assistant, but he hopes to study Child Care and Care for the Elderly at the University of Guyana.

* Jerome Abrams (Sophia Training Centre):

This valedictorian of the Sophia Training Centre said that when he first heard about this programme, he was told that it was a good opportunity as it gives a second chance to acquire an academic certification. This 21-year-old student of the Information Technology and Office Administration Class stated that his decision to be in this field was due to loving computers and technology from a young age. Although he gained pretty decent results at his sitting of the CSEC examinations a few years ago, he stated that employment was a challenge and he opted for this programme instead of “being home- idle and getting into trouble”. Abrams said in fact that this was indeed an “empowering course”. The young man said that he is employed as a Customer Service Representative at Digicel and he is hoping to stay there for a bit and start studying either Computer Science or Business Management at UG soon.