SDC / USAID launch a youth at risk program in the West | Stories of lead

West Office:

The Social Development Commission (SDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) seek to integrate youth at risk into the formal world of work. facilitating a vocational training program.

The initiative aims to train young people aged 18 to 29 in electrical installation or metal welding for a period of eight weeks, after which they will receive a City & Guilds certification.

USAID-funded Community Empowerment and Transformation Project II (COMET II), which aims to build long-term sustainable development in communities and civil society organizations

] "We were oversubscribed with young people who wanted to be part of the program, but we chose 40 young people for training and we are in our third week where 25 are doing electrical and 15 welding work. Says Carolyn Brown-James, Comm Unit Development Officer for St James.

PROGRAM WELL RECEIVED

"The enthusiasm and welcome were welcomed, as some people practiced but did not have certification, which allows them to follow an easy program from 10am to 3:30 pm" adds Brown-James.

The SDC officer further stated to The Gleaner that the training and certification of these young people also meant that they would be able to hire them [19659002] "They will not have time to commit crimes and engage in violent or shameful acts for themselves and their community, because they will instead focus on" Brown-James

"We are watching so this cohort of young people who will not be involved in any crime or violence because they are already cared for, "added Brown-James.

She added that 25 young people would be exposed to a sports component:" In addition from that, we will train them as true referees, where they will do the physical part of the training.We take young people from Salt Spring, Paradise, Norwood, Barrett Town, Bug and others. "