Two ministries have joined hands with the Junior Achievers Dominica (JA) in a strategic partnership agreement that will support financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workplace skills.
On Friday, the Ministries of Education and Youth, together JA Dominica, held a ceremony at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium Conference room to sign the Memorandum of Understanding to cement the deal.
According to Minister for Education, Petter Saint Jean, the partnership synchronizes the vision of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, which focuses on the preparation of well-rounded citizens who can function, not just locally, but in an increasingly competitive environment.
He stated the partnership will enable the three agencies to “pull our resources to meet this specific organizational mandate.”
“It will allow us to capitalize on our strategic synergies and achieve objectives related to access, outreach and capacity building of the shared target groups and indeed youth development in Dominica,” he said.
Saint Jean noted that the new partnership will address four main areas.
They include the strengthening of national capacity during which the parties will “focus their respective efforts in a targeted and complimentary manner in niches from primary to tertiary education levels as well as in the community.”
“Secondly, the scope of the access to and supportive programs for sustainable development of entrepreneurship will be augmented for all of our school-aged youth both in and out of school,” he explained.
He continued, “thirdly, outreach and mentorship support to the young, aspiring and practicing entrepreneurs will be maximized in an approach that will leverage and also integrate the strength of the various parties involved.”
Additionally the partnership will facilitate a seamless transition of youth from in-school entrepreneurship educational programs into the real world of work.
Meantime Executive Director of JA Dominica, Nataha Yeeloy-Labaad, noted her team is confident that the support from the private sector, as well as international aid partners and now the commitment from the both ministries, is a move to foster sustainable development in the country.
“Today, you the media, and members of the public have been called to witness a very meaningful display of the focus that each of these departments has regarding the youth of Dominica,” she said.
Representing the Ministry of Youth were Minister Justina Charles and acting chief youth officer, John Roach.
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