SPECIALISTS in Sustained Youth Development and Research Inc (SSYDR) has partnered with ExxonMobil Guyana for a fourth year to host “Employment Attack 102 – SSYDR Job Readiness Summer Camp”.
According to a release, to date, 450 young people from across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have benefitted from this camp. The programme has been expanded this year to include students in Region One.
The two-month camp targets 180 students from specific secondary schools within these regions, who will be trained, using a seven-module work-ready curriculum, which includes personal development, interpersonal communication, work habits and conduct, leadership and teamwork, safety and health, rights and responsibilities and financial fitness.

“This year, we have upgraded our course content to include an introduction to entrepreneurship, focusing on the characteristics of an entrepreneur, presenting a business idea and risk,” said Magda Fiona Wills, Founder/Executive Director SSYDR Inc.
Youth from Regions Two, Three, Four, Six and 10 will have the use of Smart Phones and data plans for Online training, whilst the youth in Region One will benefit from face-to-face learning, with full observation of COVID-19 precautions and guidelines.
Employment Attack 102 was conceptualised to reduce poverty, and minimise its impacts on the vulnerable youth population. An important component of the initiative ensures participants are assigned coaches, and together they develop an individual livelihood plan; identify short and long-term goals, and map out the process of achieving these goals.

Further, participants are guided on the accumulation of necessary documents towards employment opportunities.
“ExxonMobil Guyana is pleased to continue its support for an initiative that has such a transformative impact,” said Community Relations Manager, Suzie DeAbreu, who added: “As we continue to develop Guyana’s natural resources, it is becoming increasingly necessary for young Guyanese to position themselves for growing opportunities.” The organisation is grateful for the support of ExxonMobil Guyana, the Ministry of Education, regional administrations, and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) to realise the successful execution of Employment Attack 102.
SSYDR Inc. has as its vision, “Inspired Youth transforming themselves, their communities, their nation”, and has a mission to “promote youth access to resources, opportunities and ongoing support for lifelong learning, leadership and livelihoods towards the reduction of violence, crime and poverty”.