Twenty-three participants are set to benefit from Republic Bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme launched on Monday at its New Market Street location.
According to the Government Information Agency, Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir in his address at the opening lauded the Bank’s initiative pointing out that it will equip young people to serve in the highest positions in the future. He said this is essential to Guyana’s growth and he urged other companies to emulate the Bank’s example. He also charged the participants to make good use of what is being taught and to be model citizens.
Managing Director Edwin H Gooding said “for decades, our Bank has focused on youth development and this is very evident in our community outreach initiatives.” He said too he is particularly pleased that the Bank has been successful in drawing a wide cross-section of participants to the Youth Link programme.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Republic Bank, David Dulal-Whiteway said the programme started 20 years ago in Trinidad and Tobago and is now being introduced in Guyana. Dulal-Whiteway said that “Youth Link, like so many of our other outreach initiatives, was born out of a need identified by the Bank which is the need for youths to be given the tools to become more prepared for the working world and to enable them to be more marketable in their career pursuits.” He added that “we are confident that the success of the programme in Trinidad will be matched in Guyana, and that in fact, the programme will become one of the most anticipated mainstays on our corporate calendar here.”
Additionally Senior Manager-Credit John Alves said that the beneficiaries of the programme will have much to reflect on and look forward to during the programme. He told the participants “We hope that with the Youth Link experience you will mature into skilled, responsible adults, who will go forth with the maturity and confidence to make a positive life for yourself and those around you.”
According to the release the objectives of the programme are to bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work and to equip participants with basic training and marketable skills in business related disciplines, in order to improve their career options. The programme is open to secondary school graduates in business studies between the ages of 16 and 19 years. The programme lasts for seven months during which the apprentices are attached to a Republic Bank branch or specialist unit where they are exposed to various courses in office procedures, personal development, banking operations, customer service and computing. At the end of the programme, apprentices receive a certificate of participation and awards in various categories.
