Four hundred and two youths from all across Guyana have now graduated from the United States Agency for International Development’s Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) Project.
A graduation ceremony was held at the Pegasus Hotel’s Savannah Suite yesterday where 20 youths received certificates to mark their successful completion of the project.
The SKYE project aims to expand education, skill building and employment opportunities for at-risk youth in Guyana with the goal of reducing youth crime and violence by strengthening economic participation and civic engagement. The five-year project provides targeted alternative sentencing, work-ready training and livelihood coaching opportunities for 2200 youth ages 15-24, in regions 3,4,5,6 and 10 as well as the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).
Chief of Party for the SKYE Project, Magda Fiona Wills in her remarks noted that youths with the talent and vision to start their own businesses should be able to and as a result SKYE ensures they are fully equipped with the relevant skills needed. In addition, she said that the project also provides a second chance in life for youths while they improve themselves after they may have committed petty offences such as wandering, simple larceny, common assaults or even possession of small amount of cannabis. To date, magistrates and probation officers have worked with some 86 youths who joined the project.
Speaking about her experience, a graduate, Tashanna Frank explained that at the age of sixteen she became pregnant and was a school dropout. But being a single parent with a child to take care of did not stop Frank from living her dream. She joined the SKYE project years after and successfully completed training. She is now a young entrepreneur with her own business. She described her experience as overwhelming and beneficial and hopes to get involved in community outreach programmes so that she can encourage other single mothers like herself to follow their dreams and get involved with projects like SKYE.
Another individual who benefited from the SKYE project, Shemroy Bourne who now works with the Guyana Police Force said he will be forever be grateful to the SKYE team. The nineteen-year-old told Stabroek News that he joined the project because he was determined to move ahead after he was forced to drop out of school and as such was unable to sit the CSEC examinations. After being introduced to a SKYE coach, Bourne said he was given a second chance in life.
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan was unable to attend the event because of the ongoing budget debate.
Christopher Cushing, Mission Director of USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean in his brief remarks disclosed that USAID had invested some $78M in the project for the years 2016 to 2019.
Ann Hershkowitz, Associate Project Director expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Protection for their support from the inception of the project.
She also acknowledged the organizations that had been part of the project and had employed over 10 youths over the years. These included Qualfon Guyana, the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Giftland OfficeMax and BK Internation-al.
