TWENTY-THREE young men and women graduated, on Monday, from Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd Youth Link/Apprenticeship Programme 2010/2011, which afforded them the opportunity of transitioning from secondary school to the adult world of work.
The ceremony, in the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel, themed ‘Dedication, Professionalism and Integrity’ and characterised by elegance, was truly an occasion for celebration, as it signaled the successful completion of seven months of intense work.
For the duration, Republic Bank exposed the graduates to its operations, while instilling in them values to develop their personal and professional lives.
The apprenticeship began last October with 25 participants, drawn from Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice, but two dropped out.
Republic Bank Managing Director, Mr. John Alves, who acknowledged their sterling performance in the seven months of training, congratulated the group and wished them the best going forward.
He added that the ‘Youth Link’ experience is Republic Bank’s investment in their future development and commended the officers across the branch network who provided the daily guidance and coaching to the apprentices towards competence, confidence and capability.
Alves said the programme is an integral part of Republic Bank’s outreach initiative – ‘the Power to make a Difference’- through which the Bank affords secondary school graduates the opportunity to experience the working world in a nurturing, safe and professional environment.
“It is our objective, through this programme, to equip the apprentices with the requisite level of awareness, knowledge, skills and etiquette to propel their career in a positive direction and, more importantly, to become assets to their employers and, ultimately, a source of national pride for Guyana,” he said.
Over the seven months of the apprenticeship, which exposed each participant to the day to day banking processes, the core values the Bank sought to instill in the participants included excellence in customer service, attendance and punctuality, a professional attitude and team orientation.
Alves told them: “As you continue in your life’s pursuits, we encourage you to strive for excellence in your endeavours and we trust that your experience here, at Republic Bank, will help to catapult you to your full careers.”
Republic Bank Manager, Legal Services, Ms. Christine Mc Gowan congratulated the graduates on their performance, noting that they have made the institution, their families and communities proud.

Privileged

Considering them to have been privileged to be part of the programme crafted to provide exposure to the world of work, she asserted: “Your presence here indicates the high level of commitment and enthusiasm to every task undertaken.”
Mc Gowan urged them to apply the valuable lessons and life skills acquired to their future endeavours while challenging themselves to greater excellence.
Apart from exposure to everyday banking processes and the core values of the banking culture, the apprenticeship was fun-filled, allowing for social activities during which the apprentices mingled with the Bank’s staff and got the opportunity to offer stints of service to the elderly at Uncle Eddie’s and the Red Cross Convalescent homes. The latter was done through a community outreach styled ‘Care-a-Thon’ which taught the apprentices the values of empathy, social awareness and respect for individuals.
Minister of Labour, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, who delivered the feature address, joined in congratulating the graduates and took note of their remarkable performance.
Commending their service to humanity and commitment to improving the workforce in Guyana, he was also high in praises for both the graduates and the programnme from which they graduated.
Nadir encouraged them to make the best of opportunities they can get to become employed and so put to good use the excellent experience they now have under their belts.
He challenged them to maximise the chances afforded them by the best possible training they received in preparation for entering the world of work.
The apprenticeship does not guarantee the graduates employment at the Bank but is an excellent opportunity for the beneficiaries to become equipped with the requisite level of awareness, knowledge, skills and etiquette to prepare them for the world of work and to propel their career in whichever area in a positive direction, Nadir observed.

Optimistic

The minster, optimistic that the graduates have now become highly competitive in an environment where there are, literally, thousands clamouring for employment, dared them to go for it.
He admonished the youths that they need to pursue continued education to the pinnacle and to, resolutely, after training, apply themselves with continued diligence in order to succeed in life,
Presentation of certificates to the graduating batch was done by members of Republic Bank’s Board of Directors.
Special performance awards were presented to:
* Valedictorian, Ms. Erica Singh;
* Customer Service Award, Ms. Lashwana Jupiter;
* Best Speaker Award, Ms. Veadwattie Rajroop and
* Mr. Lawrence Edwards copped the Most Congenial Person and Outstanding Performance in Attendance, Punctuality and Attitude awards.