SOME 156 young people from vulnerable communities are now equipped with technical skills and the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) held a graduation in honour of their achievement at Umana Yana, Georgetown on Thursday.

The graduates hail from the Bell West Skills Training Centre, Buxton Skills Training Centre and the Training to Help Realise Innovative Ventures and Entrepreneurship (THRIVE) Centre.

Delivering the feature address, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, according to the International Development Bank (IDB), Guyana has persistently high unemployment.

And two of the main factors contributing to high unemployment in Guyana are school drop outs and lack of marketable skills among many youths and women.
“These two obstacles to Guyana’s growth are made even more frightening when you consider that there is a perception that some youths want material gains, while lacking the wherewithal to do so,” the minister said.

Government’s policies, he said are geared towards lowering the unemployment rate through job opportunities.

“I am heartened and extremely hopeful for the future when young people take the reins of their life and begin to set a course for their legacy,” he said.

The graduation was somewhat a bitter-sweet moment for the minister, who noted that “It is happening at a time when another young graduate met his demise while attempting to rob a bank.”

“You have to work for your wealth, no matter how small it may be; it can only be done through the acquisition of skills through an education,” he said.

The skills and training of the graduates, he said are needed in the country.
“With the recent find of oil and gas, these skills will be in heavy demand. There will be need for mechanics, welders, steel benders and so on. Even certificates in food and beverages will be in demand.

“The education system is now being reoriented in of many ways in terms of our department in innovation and reform,” he said.

Government has acquired a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank for the establishment of a tourism and hospitality school and technical and vocational skills training.

“Just two months ago I signed a MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence in certain targeted communities,” he said.

Best graduating student in Garment Construction, Danetta Mc Clurehm, of the Buxton Skills Training Centre was overwhelmed by her achievement.

She intends to start her own business and help her fellow Buxtonians.

Kayla Glen, who was adjudged Best Graduating Student of woodworking from the Buxton Skills Training Centre, said being a girl, she did not expect the award.

She is hoping to open a business and to further her studies in joinery.

Since in 1979, the BNTF Programme has been contributing to poverty reduction in targeted communities by providing infrastructure and livelihood enhancement services, nationally and regionally.

So far, there have been seven BNTF programme cycles, implementing over 2,000 sub-projects to directly impact the lives of more than 2.8 million people in poor communities.

The programme supports a socially inclusive development process that empowers the poor and vulnerable and supports institutional development.