173 graduate from Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre

May 24, 2014 News

More than 100 youths graduated with various skills from the Roadside Baptist Skills Training Centre (RBSTC) at Number 68 Village, Corentyne recently. A further 51 single parents and young people, who were trained by the Board of Industrial Training also graduated from the institution during the 21st graduation exercise.

MOE’s Ms. Donna Chapman presents this graduate with her certificate.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the non- governmental organization, Mrs. Yetrawattie Katryan, boasted about the institution’s achievements over the years, particularly its adult remediation and literacy programme.
“Although it is reported that Guyana has achieved universal primary education, the high level of illiteracy among young children and teenagers continues to plague our society. Our Remedial Education programme targets school drop-outs aged 13 and above, to equip them with basic skills in Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Comprehension and Listening.
The package includes enrichment activities, social and life skills. Most of those in that program are usually from broken homes, have experienced or witnessed abuse of all sorts and/or are living with it,” she added.
Speaking about the institution’s gender-based violence programmes, Mrs. Katrayan noted that the capacity of the Berbice Male Action Network and the East Berbice Lifesavers, was enhanced through workshops and training.
In depth discussions on the Domestic and Sexual Offence Acts inclusive of the recommended amendments, Peace Building, Non- Violent Communication and on Child Protection, were facilitated by representatives from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Child Protection Agency, Red Thread and Kids First Foundation.
“That Project was made possible through the United States Agency for International Development – USAID, with a grant of $6,621,032 and a counterpart funding from of $326,052 cash and in kind from Roadside Baptist. At the end of the Project $117,450 in unspent fund was refunded to USAID.
All of the planned activities were implemented and targets exceeded.” She thanked her donors, especially the U.S. Government, through USAID and the U.S. Embassy.
Collaboration with the BIT has been extraordinary. A total of 16 Single female parents and 35 Youths benefitted from the four months’ training. All trainees also participated in 20 hours of Entrepreneurial Skills training.
The youths had to complete an additional 40 hours each in English Language and Mathematics. All had the advantage of travel reimbursement – $4,000 monthly to Single Parents and $6,000 monthly to the youths.
Information Technology skills, pertinent to today’s generation, has benefitted the graduates, she noted. The graduating batch of 2014 is primarily made up of trainees from the IT Department – 78 in number. Among the 78 are four who pursued training in the August 2014 holiday Computer Literacy programme and four of the five trained in Computer Maintenance and Management, continued to do Computer Repairs and Programming.
RBSTC has also embarked on numerous social programmes and community service work. The December 2013 treat left quite a memory to the 120 seniors. “Interaction with First Lady, Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar, and her daughter and that of Mr. & Mrs. Poonai Bhigroog, added flavor to the occasion.
“Gift packages for all 120 seniors were donated by those persons. Food and goodies were plentiful, compliments of the business community.
Even the Police Scout Group of Adventure, Berbice, volunteered to share in that activity.”
She made a call to the Government to endow the organization with a full-time counselor to further enhance the capability and capacity to deal with persons with all sorts of issues. She praised the Berbice Male Action Network and The Youths In Unison for their work in counseling.
“It is provided for disadvantaged and abused women, children, perpetrators, survivors of attempted suicide, and for persons exhibiting suicidal tendencies and family members,” she added.
At the grand event, too, were Social Worker, Mrs. Paulette Henry; Ministers of the Government (within the Ministry of Finance,) Bishop Juan Edghill and (Ministry of Labour) Dr. Nanda Gopaul; Deputy Regional Executive Officer Region Six, Mr. Imraan Alli; Honorary Consul General of Japan, Consul Kashir Khan; Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Donna Chapman; Regional Education Officer Mrs. Volika Jaikishun; Executive Director of the Adult Education Association of Guyana, MS.; Board of Directors, as well as staff and members of RBSTC.