Region Ten Regional Chairman, Renis Morian recently unveiled the region’s second annual Work Readiness Program-me which is an initiative geared at providing the relevant training and opening of opportunities for the region’s young people.
In a Region Ten press release, Morian noted that the region continues to battle with youth unemployment and while there has been some success in creating jobs he believes that the Work Readiness Pro-gramme will significantly address the unemployment challenges facing the region.
In responding to the criticism that the programme is only geared for youths in Linden, the regional chairman was dismissive of that view stressing that those in Kwakwani, Ituni and outlying areas will also benefit from the programme as they seek to aggressively open opportunities for economic development for young people through employment.
Morian stated, “We have some young persons that were part of the Work Readiness Programme in Region Ten that are being trained right now to work at the Immigration Office in Linden. Some of them came out of the Work Readiness programme and we have just sent the proposal to do our Work Readiness Programme this year where we are looking again to bring on about 60 young persons.”
He added, “The young persons are attached to various agencies from mechanic shop to the office so it covers all the spectrums for six months so now it is twofold. Often times when they leave school and are looking for a job people ask for experience so it helps in providing the required experience and on the other hand most of the young persons that did the last programme are employed as teachers, nurses some at offices and some went into the University of Guyana so we are pushing that, so I have sent the proposal and [we’re] awaiting funding.”
It was disclosed that the programme is managed by two coordinators and offers a stipend of $15,000 per month to the participants which will help them to pay their transportation costs among other expenses. The Regional Chairman also pointed out that these coordinators are paid as they are required to closely monitor the participants on the programme. He further disclosed that there is a monthly meeting where counselling, sharing and evaluation is done but stated that instead of having these meeting once a month, provisions are being made for it to be done fortnightly.
He opined that this will assist in better evaluating and assisting the participants in their respective fields. “It will help in counselling them. [We] talk with them, sit down and see how they are coming along as it is geared towards strengthening their skills as many of them possess great skills but lack guidance, which we are seeking through the coordinators of the programme to assist them with and this is a general problem as we see in the schools that they lack guidance and counselling, so we are seeking to assist them greatly in this area,” Morian reassured.
According to the plans envisioned for this year, they foresee another 50 to 60 persons entering the job market. “We are confident that as the interest and excitement in this programme continues, that both private and public sector would continue to partner with us as we seek to reduce unemployment, while empowering our youths at the same time,” Morian was quoted as saying.
The Regional Chairman is hoping that the private sector will support this project and urged those companies interested in coming on board to contact his office. Their assistance in meeting the stipend costs would be appreciated. He added that his office has secured some funds but disclosed that the programme is expected to cost some $3.5 million.
However, Morian declared that with or without private sector support, his region intends to move ahead with the programme.
