THE Ministry of Home Affairs Juvenile Justice Department, in collaboration with the University of Guyana, conducted a five-month Academic and Skills Training Programme for juveniles at the Juvenile Holding Centre.
Twelve juveniles participated in the programme and were awarded certificates on Friday, March 19, 2021.
The programme was aimed at supporting the education, rehabilitation and re-integration of juveniles, through a Skills Development Project and Educational Workshop. The juveniles were trained in the areas of phonics, Mathematics, English, self-awareness, goals setting, the effects of drug abuse, anger management, and conflict and conflict resolution, among others. Skills training included art and craft, cement craft and photo editing.
During the closing ceremony held last Friday at the Juvenile Holding Centre, the Administrator, Yvette Sancho, noted that the ministry was pleased to have collaborated with the university.

She thanked the social work students for their professional execution of the training programme, which has contributed to the overall development of the juveniles.
With similar sentiments, Debbie Hopkinson, Coordinator of post-graduate studies at the University of Guyana, Department of Sociology, encouraged the juveniles to use the skills they have learnt as a pathway to becoming constructive members of society when the time comes.
The juveniles displayed some of their art and craft work during the closing ceremony.
According to the Home Affairs Ministry, it is committed to providing young offenders with the opportunity to develop their skills and potentials, which will allow them to lead productive, law-abiding life styles upon re-integration into society, while reducing recidivism.