–more than 2,000 young people benefitting from skills training under Amerindian Development Fund initiative
MORE than 2,000 young people across Indigenous communities are benefiting from employment and practical skills training under the Community Service Officer (CSO) programme, with participants transitioning into professional careers and entrepreneurship, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sarah Brown-Shadeek has said.
The minister made this known during an appearance on the Starting Point podcast, where she stated that the programme, which is supported through the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), has evolved beyond providing employment opportunities, with young people receiving training in a range of practical skills aimed at improving their future prospects.
She said the training includes small-engine repairs, shade-house management, sewing, garment construction and cosmetology, among other areas.
“This year we have raised the stipend of CSOs to $50,000,” Brown-Shadeek said, while noting that the programme has produced several success stories among its participants.
According to the minister, some CSOs have transitioned into the healthcare sector, while others have become teachers and public servants.
Others have used the skills acquired through the programme to establish their own businesses and pursue independent ventures.
Brown-Shadeek said these outcomes demonstrate the wider benefits of the programme, particularly its ability to equip young Indigenous people with practical skills that can be applied beyond their period of service as CSOs.
She said the programme forms part of the broader support provided through the ADF, which also finances village projects and initiatives based on the needs identified by individual communities.
The minister pointed to the range of ventures being undertaken by Indigenous communities, including transportation services, guest houses and other income-generating activities, as part of efforts to strengthen local economic opportunities.
She said the government remains committed to ensuring that Indigenous youth have opportunities to acquire skills and participate more meaningfully in economic development.
While strides are being made in that regard Brown-Shadeek also encouraged young people to take advantage of emerging financing opportunities, including access to the Guyana Development Bank, to build on the skills and experience gained through initiatives such as the CSO programme.
She went on to add that the objective is not only to provide temporary employment, but to create pathways through which young people can progress into sustainable careers, businesses and other forms of economic activity.