“DON’T wait for the opportunity to knock, build a door, a window or a chimney even, but whatever it is, it must get you out of your current circumstances,” said Milton Berle.
Youths residing in the mining town of Linden, little by little are building openings of opportunities, all in an effort to remove their names from the statistics of unemployment; a noticeable problem that has been shadowing the town for a while.

They are proving that employment is not only something that comes in overalls, hard hats, stocking and high heel shoes and only happens after an interview but is something that can be created and developed.

With scores of training programmes available through the Government of Guyana and to top it off, so many financial opportunities with grants and loans available, many youths are of the belief that unemployment does not have to be the category their cohorts fall into.
Free training is available through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the Ministry of Telecommunication’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) and even the Linden Enterprise Network, among other places. Many youths have utilised these training opportunities and can now boast of either being employed or owning their own businesses which has been made possible from funding through the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), the Small Business Bureau (SBB) and Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), among other small business financial institutions.

The Ministry of Public Telecommunications has trained in total about 3,000 persons in the various areas of ICT. Minister Catherine Hughes recently said on 94.1 hot seat: “We have a very impressive ‘girls can code’ programme, we have trained young people in website design, in coding in a range of different gaming, in animation… we have gone to Essequibo to Linden to Berbice… we have trained adults, men women in different areas.”

Scores of these are from Linden and it has been paying dividends for them. Youths who participated in these various forms of training have sought meaningful employment in the various sectors. One of these persons is Joan Allicock, who is now a teacher because of the knowledge she gained in the ICT training. “This training prepared me for college and I was able to pass my IT-related subjects because many things that I did not understand in school in relation to computers, I was able to get a better knowledge of it,” she said.
Minister Hughes related that one youth, who trained in website designing, is now receiving her own contracts to design the web pages for businesses.

Some youths who were a part of the first ICT batch, went a step further, established their own youth group, The Linden Youth Network, to train and empower youths within the various communities in ICT, so they too can become beneficiaries. The areas of training were communication skills; telephone ethics, interviewing tips and time management; mouse basics and keyboard references; introduction to commuters; Microsoft Office, literacy and numeracy; STEM robotics and sexual and reproductive health.

STARTING OWN BUSINESSES

In July, the LEN hosted an apiculture training, which equipped youths with the skill of beekeeping. They are now on the verge of starting their own apiculture business as they were able to access start up loans, which also came with technical support throughout their journey. One of those very ambitious young ladies who asked for her name to be withheld, related that she believes the training was a perfect opportunity to tap into a niche market, where there are currently a lot of demands. Apiculture is not a popular choice of business, sought after by youths and it was ingenious of LEN to provide, for free, training and financing opportunities for the youths in Linden. She applauded the government and encouraged other youths to come out of their comfort zone and get involved in similar training as these. “The training has really opened my eyes to alternative means of making money other than working cooperate. Entrepreneurship is much-needed in this country to diversify our economy and meet market demands and we as young people are the ones that need to do so. I encourage youths to take these opportunities and build on it, don’t take it lightly. Everything will not come easy but as youths we need to take advantage of these resources and create jobs for ourselves and build our own future. Look out for various opportunities that may suit your vision and take full advantage of them,” she said.
The Board of Industrial Training has also trained hundreds of Linden youths in several forms of vocational and soft skills. Only on Wednesday, 39 Linden youths graduated from the Early Child Hood Development Course. CEO (ag) of BIT, Richard Maughn, urged the graduates to use the certificate as a stepping stone for greater achievement at the University of Guyana.

“Having been deemed competent, there is still so much out there to learn and they are still avenues in which you can go and learn, the certificate that you will receive, was able to help others to pursue their education at the University of Guyana. I’m encouraging you to do the same, don’t just sit there – you can develop yourself further,” he said.

With the nation on the cusp for great things, he said, all Guyanese need to position themselves to benefit from the large window of opportunities that will unfold shortly.
Rawle Hinds, who completed his courses in Internal Combustion Engine and Motor Vehicle Works in 2012, used his technical training to open his mechanic shop.

He opened his own mechanic operation in his yard. This move attracted clients that he worked for before at his former place of employment, as well as new ones. He worked taxi with his car to supplement his income but said things are better now at the mechanic shop. He is hoping in the new year to establish a more permanent setting and have a registered business since it is presently in his yard at Lovers Lane, Amelia’s Ward.

The government will continue to provide training opportunities through the various agencies for youths as well as financial assistance to start up their own business. Last week, five Linden youths received grants from the SBB, to either start up or expand their businesses. LEN’s coffer is pregnant with loans for small businesses. While the government will continue to open the doors, it is still up to the youths to enter themselves. If they enter, the unemployment statistics will surely go down.