YouthBiz 592 Entrepreneurship Skills Training Programme was yesterday launched at the Vrymen’s Erven Training Centre in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
The Government initiative is a pilot programme sponsored by a grant of some US $430,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank [IDB] through a Technical Cooperation Agreement in support of the Citizen Security Strategy.
Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, Junior Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry with IDB officials and participants.
It is expected that the programme will cater to the training of 80 at- risk youths – 40 from Region Six and 40 from Region Four.
The programme arose out of an initiative by the Ministry of Public Security which saw the need for collaboration from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Business.
The core goals of the pilot programme include: at risk youths being positioned to become economically self-sufficient and to play positive roles within their communities; assessing how such a pilot intervention can prepare young people for productive livelihoods and discourage involvement in risky behavior, crime and violence; enhance the capacity of the Small Business Bureau and other Government Stakeholders in developing projects of a similar ilk.
The IDB contracted the services of an international group called Youth Build USA Inc. and the local group Small Business Bureau to execute the training of the young people and to do the assessment of the project.
The pilot programme which will last some three months will see direct benefits from entrepreneurship skills training, and coaching on how to start up a business. Life skills and leadership training are also incorporated in addition to psycho-social support.
A startup grant of US$1,500 will also be made accessible and available to the participants.
Speaking at the launching ceremony were Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and Junior Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry.
Present also were officials from the IDB, Youth Build USA Inc. and the Small Business Bureau.