The Youth Employability programme, put on by the Division of Technical Vocational Education has seen an increase in participation.
This is according to Dean of the Division of Technical Vocational Education Osborne Bowens, while speaking at the launch of a summer program, which offers entry level employment skills training, to just over 92 unemployed young people across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Bowens said the division has seen an increase in the number of participants from 88 in 2018 to 92 in 2019.
He noted that of the new courses, Garment Production/ Construction Level 11, Vehicle Service and Maintenance Level 11 and Bartending Level 11 which were added based on their overwhelming demand, along with the previous course, Electrical Installation Level 11, as well as some entrepreneurial and soft skills which will run for four weeks.
Project Director of the Mustique Charitable Foundation Mrs. Dularie Malcolm said that the Mustique Charitable Foundation stated that based and the demand and the importance of the program to the Vincentian community, the overall cost of the program has been increased from over $100,000 to over $200,000 EC dollars with each participant receiving just about $2,500 which amounts for tuition, transportation, meals and work related equipment.
Mrs. Malcolm said that this is just one of the many ways the Mustique Company gives back to St Vincent and the Grenadines, with the aim of helping young people to develop through learning a skill.
The program runs for four weeks will at the end see participants being placed on an attachment for further experience and exposure in their area of training.
