By Jeff Trotman
Twenty-seven Linden youths graduated from the USAID Skills and Know-ledge for Youth Employ-ment (SKYE) Project on October 10th and several lauded it for building their self-esteem and helping them to speak effectively.
Kelon Reece, a striker with the Winners Football Club, said he had just finished writing CXC and his football coach encouraged him to join the programme instead of staying at home and wasting time during the August Holidays. Reece stated that the programme has helped him to develop skills such as “speaking effectively, cooperating, working as a team, proper deportment, prepare for the world of work – how to write a job application”.
Romario Caesar, a player from the Botofago Football Club, said a cousin who had previously participated in the programme encouraged him to join the programme. “He tell me the programme is a very interesting programme. You get the chance to show out your inner skill and you get the chance to meet with new people,” Caesar said. “I’ve learnt a lot from the programme … like financial management. Before, I didn’t know how to manage my finance. I learnt about listening and speaking effectively. I learnt about some of the workplace habits and conduct that you need to have within you.”
Confident that continuous interaction with the coaches of the programme will help him to reach his long term goal, Caesar said: “Before now, I was a person, who liked doing drama and that sort of thing. Now I get a chance to attend a concert and showcase some of my talent.”
Valetta Wyatt, who delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, told Stabroek News that a cousin told her that the programme “was so nice” and since she was not doing anything, she joined up to occupy her time. She is happy that she did that. “USAID helped me to bring out skills I didn’t know I have,” Wyatt said. “I can get up and talk with people. I can be brave. I’m not nervous anymore. It has done a lot for my self-esteem. I intend to inform a lot of people about the programme because I think it’s very good for people, to help them open up.”
Loris McLean, Manager, Courts Linden Branch, speaking at the graduating ceremony about the SKYE project, said: “Their positive contribution and dedication to youth empowerment is outstanding and we are forever grateful for the investment they have made and will continue to make in our community.”
He said the impressions that the SKYE coaches are making on their young charges will be indelibly remembered and they will be proud of the achievements of their charges.
Magda Fiona Willis of the USAID/SYYE Project also delivered brief remarks during the ceremony, which was held at the Linden Constabulary Hall. She said over time, the SKYE Project has attracted dedicated participation of young people from Linden and she is looking forward for the current graduating batch to creditably utilize the skill they have acquired during their period of specialized training.
“Your first job may not be the best job but it can be one of your best experiences based on how you treat it,” Willis said as she entreated the graduands that if they take a job, they should do their best. “You shouldn’t take the job and then quarrel that you’re only paid $50,000 a month. Remember, you knew that was the salary. So, what you do is to prove yourself on the job.”
She encouraged the graduands to aspire to be the best employee at their work place; to be the “go to person” on the job. “When that happens you know that you are valued,” Willis said. She also told them that they would be surprised that when people see how well they work how much those people would want to employ them and then the monetary rewards would flow. “But, it doesn’t happen overnight,” Willis cautioned.
She also advised the young people that they can become whatever they want to be once they work conscientiously at their aspirations and heed the advice of their coaches. She pointed out that one person who had participated in a SKYE training programme started out with a mere $2,500 in a business venture and that person is now operating a thriving small business. “Some-times we think that we need so much to start but you can start with very little … even if you break even every day, or get back what you put in, you will pick up.”
Willis also advised the participants not be afraid of failure since they can learn from such experience. She also told them to make use of all the resources they can find including seeking information on the internet and constant advice from their coaches.
