Minutes before the ceremony, the centre which has a student population of 62, was given three sewing machines and a button covering ma-chine to boost its sewing department by the Canadian Government though the Canadian International Deve-lopment Agency, (CIDA).
Victoria training centre gets Canadian help -students graduate
During a simple handing over ceremony, Director General for CIDA’s Carib-bean Affairs, Doug Williams said that the initiative behind the programme and work of the volunteers is commendable. He said that a wonderful job is being done at the centre and stressed that CIDA is delighted at being able to lend its support.
Those present then moved to the Primary School a short distance away for the graduation exercise. The students attending the centre are from villages stretching from Mahaica to Mon Repos.
The coordinator, Desmond Saul during his report on the activities of the centre declared that indiscipline and a lack of interest to learn were the major problems among the students.
He blamed this on what is happening in the home, stressing that parents need to understand that they need to pay an interest in their children’s education.
Saul pointed out that at last year’s graduation, he was disappointed at parents’ attendance.
He said that the physical and moral destruction of youths is as a result of drugs which many have become addicted to. Saul urged the students present to help fight this scourge to develop better standards in their communities.
Focusing now on Victoria, he said the aim of the centre is to help to develop well-educated and employed villagers. It was later pointed out that that many Victorians are making use of the institution. He urged Victorians to start creating ways to earn a livelihood and stop copying others.
Speaking on the centre’s expansion plans, he stated that an agricultural programme has started and hopefully it will develop into a commercial business much like that being planned for the sewing programme.
Meanwhile Victorian and attorney-at-law Rexford Jackson in his charge to the graduants urged them to write down their goals and not live life without a vision or a plan.
He encouraged them to think big and not limit their abilities.
Williams who has been working in the Caribbean for the last year and is based in Barbados encouraged the students to make the best use of their skills.
Mid way through the programme, the area was hit by a blackout and as the darkness encroached a torch light had to be used to distribute the certificates and wrap up the programme.
Deron Collins, 19 years old and a resident of Golden Grove completed a course in electrical installation and while speaking with this newspaper he expressed the desire to become an electrical engineer.
He said that he decided to join the programme since he wanted to learn something more in life. Collins said that with the graduation he will not stop there as he wants to continue his studies in a quest to become an electrical engineer.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Victorian Colin Solomon who also graduated with a certificate in Electrical Installation said that he was encouraged by his father. He said that the one-year programme has been enjoyable and he is in the process of seeking a job in the electrical field. He said that over the months he has learnt a lot about various things in the electrical field.
Eight youths including a young woman graduated with certificates in Electrical Installation while a young man and a young woman successfully completed courses in carpentry and sewing respectively.
During the ceremony Brigadier (ret’d) Edward Collins handed over a cheque to the centre to assist a child of a single-parent mother who could not afford the subsidized fee.
Just before handing over the cheque he said that while at the last graduation he realized that some students found it difficult to afford the fees and he decided that he would sponsor an underprivileged child.
Also present at the occasion were Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger and Justice Donald Trotman who is a son of the neighbouring village of Golden Grove.
The centre which is housed in the Guyana Radio and Electronic Company (GRECO) started six years ago.
Next month the village which was the first purchased by emancipated slaves will be celebrating its 170th anniversary.
In observance of this historic occasion, the centre will hold exhibitions at the Centre and at the National Library.
A second souvenir magazine on the village will be produced shortly. The existing magazine is on sale at a cost of $600.
