LINDEN youths residing in the community of Block 22 have recently concluded a two-month programme which has equipped them with life skills.

The programme was coordinated by philanthropist Marva Semple, founder of Totally Moulding Training Centre, where hundreds of youths over the last three decades would have benefited from similar programmes.

Youths as young as ten years were trained in various fields of agro- processing, small scale manufacturing and art. They were taught to manufacture scented candles, soaps, cushions, pillow cases, laundry bags and aprons. As a way of embracing a green Guyana, this year’s training programme also included manufacturing household and personal items with recycled materials. These include hand bags from old denim pants, wall hanging ornaments from newspapers as well as other trashed material to make belts and picture frames.
The programme commenced on a the 9th July at the Block 22 Multi-Purpose Centre and received an overwhelming response from the youths who were eager to build their skillset and capacity for the niche markets. Cake making, cooking and other culinary skills were also taught.

Collaborative efforts from the office of the Regional Chairman Renis Morian, the Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon and the Community Development Group of Block 22 also made the programme possible in the form of providing sewing machines, food for the participants and extra furniture. Semple has been rolling out programmes of this nature since the 1980s.