First Lady, Sandra Granger, on Monday encouraged 40 youths drawn from several communities across Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice to capitalise on the chance to learn Information and Communication Technology (ICT) so that they can take advantage of the employment opportunities in that sector.
According to a Ministry of the Presidency (MotP) press release, this charge was delivered as part of an address to the participants at the opening of an ICT workshop at the Linden Resource Centre. It is the third workshop to be hosted in the region.
“The young people of Guyana are a major part of our population, so it is a fact that you are the ones to take us forward…There are a lot of talent flowing through our veins and there is a lot of talent to be seized and one of the ways we will seize that [talent] is if we get on top of this Information and Communication Technology which is going to guide us and help us to manage our progress. I want you to be assured that we are looking at ways in which you can not only collect a piece of paper, but [ways] that will help you find your way to employment,” Granger was quoted as saying. She also noted that many graduates of the programme have found employment within the ICT sector through the National Data Management Authority.
Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood; Parliamentary Representative for Region Ten, Jermaine Figueira and Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell were also in attendance, the MotP release added.
Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, said that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) plans to digitize its records and invited the coordinator of the ICT workshop, Deron Adams, to submit a proposal on how it could be carried out, ensuring that it will be utilising the skills of the graduates of the workshop. He urged the participants not to “See this as we’re just teaching ICT, but the whole business is to ready your mind for developmental works, programmes and jobs that will be coming your way.”
Blueberry Hill resident Jenel Schwartz, a participant in the workshop said that she first learnt of the opportunity through the various youth programmes that she participates in. “I tried to get a lot of young people on board as well with me, but mostly the boys. … I expect to gain a lot when it comes to using computers,” she said.
Another participant, Winston Caesar, said that he was happy for the opportunity to diversify his education. “I used to work with a mining company, but I recognised that I need to improve in certain areas and so I decided to go back to school and I was advised about this programme so I came to do it,” he said.
The MotP disclosed that participants in the month-long programme will be awarded with certificates that have been accredited by the Ministry of Social Protection’s Board of Industrial Training. The course also includes tuition in Robotics, Microenterprise Management, the Microsoft Suite and other subjects.
