The Youth Development Division held its Skills Training Programme Open Day on Thursday. The Open Day presented an opportunity to the public to view the work that the participants have been engaged in for the past weeks.
Open Day was held in Grandbay where the trainees did Electricals; Roseau-Computer Literacy and Building Maintenance, Portsmouth-Computer Literacy and Wesley- Computer Literacy.
In Grandbay, the participants felt confident that they are now able to wire a house on their own while the participants at Portsmouth were able to use their new computer skills to create business cards and other promotional items for their businesses. The participants in Wesley praised the life skills programme saying that they were thrilled to engage in the modules on Sex Education and Drug Abuse to name just two.
Adult participant, Ms. Sylvester said that she is a better mother as a result of what she learnt so far at the Programme. While she already had working experience, the Computer Literacy module did wonders for her. So far, she has learnt file management among others. Additionally, many things that she took for granted before in the world of work, she will definitely be improving on such as appropriate attire for work and right attitudes in the workplace.
Sylvester said that she would encourage anyone to take this course because they will see some benefit in one way or another. To her no one is too old to participate.
She added that had she known what she now knows from the HFLE course she probably would not have had five children. Instead she would have probably been a doctor which is what she dreamt of being. She promised to pass on this new knowledge to her children so that they can be better individuals.
Meanwhile, Quality Assurance Consultant with the Dominica TVET council, Mr. Abraham Durand said that he has been working with the Youth Skills Training Programme (YSTP) and what he has seen so far is truly amazing. He said further that he has been working closely with the YSTP to upscale their instructors and generally upgrade the delivery of a certain quality of training that is going to develop the competence that is needed for certifying candidates with the award of the NVQ(National Vocational Qualification) and CVQ(Caribbean Vocational Qualification). He added that the YSTP has “gone the whole nine yards in developing their approach and adding value to the occupational standards prescribed by the NVQ”.
He said, “I have noticed an integration in the variety of skills, knowledge and attitudes that gives the trainees a sense of purpose in what they are doing”.
He encouraged the trainees to go into their communities and put into practice what they have learned and to function at a new level.
