The Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, is partnering with government and other private agencies to host a youth employment drive tomorrow in an attempt to tackle unemployment.
Agencies including the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company, Courts Incorporated Guyana, Giftland Mall and Qualfon, will be represented at the event, which is to be held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
A release from the Department of Public Information (DPI) said that firms will be able to share information with attendees, and those participating will have the opportunity to speak with representatives of various human resource departments, who will be conducting on the spot interviews.
“We have had our ears on the ground, so we are seeking in our capacity to bring about some resolution to this issue, hence the job fair. While it is not biggest, with companies on board it will certainly make a great impact,” Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael-Haynes stated.
Following this exercise, Carmichael-Haynes said the department will be partnering with the Manpower Unit to visit schools to implement their ‘work ready’ training programme, which aims to prepare young people to successfully enter the work environment. This initiative will cater to students from forms three to five.
“This will provide the opportunity for them to think about the place where they would like to create career and gives them enough information and training so once they leave their respective secondary institutions, they will understand what is the next step for them, whether to a tertiary institution or the workforce,” Carmichael-Haynes said.
The release said that the department has received over 699 applications from persons across Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6, with an estimated 174 applicants being young men and the remainder young women.
DPI said that Project Officer, Jermaine Watson, related that about 10 per cent of the applicants have technical backgrounds.
