Thirty four graduate from Skills Training Programme

Thirty-four young persons from across the island are now better trained in dessert and pastry making and air condition/refrigeration.

Sixteen females and 3 males completed the Desert and Pastry training, while 13 males and 2 females completed the training in Air Condition/Refrigeration. The participants were between the ages of 18 to 35 years.

The courses formed part of the Training Skills Programme organized by the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) in collaboration with The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and the government of Dominica.

“The purpose of the training was to provide and equip participants with formal knowledge and skills, so they will better be able to secure or create employment thereby contributing to economic and personal development,” NDFD Training Coordinator, Carrie Charles-Thomas, told participants of the training programme at their graduation ceremony on Friday.

The training started in August and was completed in October 2014 and according to Thomas, participants also received training in the areas of business, computer and social skills.

She advised the participants to continue to further their knowledge and skills in the areas they were trained pointing out that some participants have already put their skills to use and are making various pastries for sale.

“Also one young person from the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration group has already gained employment,” she revealed, adding “Some other young people from the Air Conditioning group have expressed interest in starting a small business in the Grand bay community…”

Meantime, Minister for Social Services, Gender Affairs and Family, Catherine Daniel, said by participating in the Skills Training Programme participants have demonstrated ambition and determination to achieve their goals.

According to Daniel, it is heartening to see that young people are career focused and are now equipped with useful skill with which they can earn a living.

“Too often we lambast our young, too often we out young people down and when you have done something good I think the whole country should rejoice with you and really be there for you,” she stated.

She urged participants to make the best of the opportunity which have been given, in order to advance themselves personally and to attain a certain degree of economic independence.

Daniel also urged participants to make their mark through high quality work.

“You can be the best refrigeration person, the best pastry person, but if your attitude is not good, you won’t get the jobs that you are seeking,” she explained.

The minister admonished the trained graduates to be honest.

“Do not try to rip off people, honest day’s work honest day’s pay, do not overcharge somebody,” she urged.

Participants also received special prizes for most disciplined, most punctual and most outstanding, among other awards.

The Pastry and Dessert Making training was held in the village of La Plaine at the Agricultural training centre and was facilitated by Leandra Cuffy, while the Air Condition/Refrigeration course was held at the Grand Bay Youth Centre. The facilitator was Courtney Walsh.