Commander of ‘D’ Division Stephen Mansell has launched another programme to help unemployed youths in the division as part of a social crime prevention initiative.
The La Grange, Bagotville and Nismes Youth Empowerment Programme was launched one week ago at the Bagotville Community Centre.
According to Mansell, the initiative is targeting vulnerable youths in the communities and seeks to empower them, while also tackling the rise in crimes. Over 100 young people are expected to benefit from the programme, which will focus on skills training, craft and information technology.
Remedial classes will also be a feature of the programme. Children as young as seven years will be catered for, while adults would also be welcome.
Religious organisations are also collaborating with the police in the execution of the programme, which is being managed by a committee headed by Pastor Derrick Anderson.
The Bagotville Com-munity Centre will be facilitating the programme, which will run from Monday to Friday from 4pm to 8pm.
Six computers are expected to be installed at the centre and they will significantly boost the programme, Mansell said.
Upon completion of the computer courses, jobs will be sought at the Qualfon Call Centre at Providence, he added.
He noted too that six sewing machines will be supplied to help equip single-parents with skills which will make them marketable.
A football field at Nismes is expected to be rehabilitated as part of the programme, while a building at Bagotville that once housed a cooperative society will be converted into a Training Centre, Mansell also said.
Several educational programmes targeting school drop outs are currently ongoing in Zeeburg and Leonora on the West Coast Demerara, while other programmes were also introduced to several secondary schools throughout the division.
