Latest update March 20th, 2025 5:10 AM
Latest News
- Guyana’s oil growth boosting regional economies– CDB Director of Economics
- Suspected outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Region Four
- Israel launches first ground offensive since Gaza ceasefire collapse
- Sod turned for $665M expansion of St. Stanislaus College
- Pensioner jailed for raping child
Three graduate from inaugural Amerindian Computer Training
Back Row L-R–AREO Fitzpatrick, lecturer Vincent, REO Parker and coordinator of the Community Radio in Region 9. Front row, the graduating students are flanked by a Parisharra community councilor, Ms. Erlene Mc Donald.
Three students are now equipped to return to their Amerindian community of Parisharra armed with computer skills to teach their peers and villagers, thanks to an initiative of Region Nine Executive Officer, Carl Parker, and his secretary Ms. Keisha Vincent.
The two RDC officials came together with a plan to aid in the holistic development of youths within Region Nine as they seek to boost their educational capacity while helping to enhance the respective villages.
As such, Ms. Vincent decided to offer her time voluntarily and with the assistance of Food for the Poor providing some computers they set about on a basic Computer skills programme which lasted for three weeks.
At a simple but historic graduation exercise witnessed by the REO, Ms. Vincent, AREO Ms. Althea Fiztpatrick, officials within the business community, graduates and members of the public and held at the Conference Hall of the Amerindian Hostel, Parker said that he firmly believes in the ‘teach a man to fish’ approach. Noting that through the skills that the three youths have learnt, they are now in a better position to create employment for themselves.
The youths, Michael Mc Donald junior, Edison Buckley and Kimberly Buckley hail from Parisharra. According to the REO, his administration intends to present them a printer so that they can open a small business, thus servicing their village and other nearby villages with the view of teaching other youths, while earning an income at the same time.
“We will buy a printer for you guys to start a small business, as every time students have to do SBAs, write a letter or do any form of assignment with a computer, they are forced to come out to Lethem to not only have it typed but also printed and with the skills that you are now equipped with, you will return and teach them (youths and villagers) how to use a computer,” he said.
The REO said, “I went to Food for the Poor one day, and I told them, ‘I didn’t come here for food, or for clothes, because my philosophy was, if I give you food today, I still have to find food next week, and I have to find food the following week.’
“My philosophy was to, instead of giving food, give the residents of Region Nine the opportunity and the capacity to find food for themselves. One of the ideas, and one of the tools, was through computer training. We know that the world is fully computerized, and places like Rupununi, we are really behind.”
He added, “I was in the South Pakaraimas last year November, and that really opened my eyes. The people up there have no access to news, telephones, nothing. So they are actually blanked out from Guyana’s mainstream line. And I was thinking [that] a way to close that gap is through computer training.
“I was able to convince the Directors of Food for the Poor, and they donated three computer systems. We have set up one of those computer systems in Maruranau, South Rupununi; we have set up one in Parisharra, Central Rupununi, and we intend to set one up in Aranaputa, North Rupununi. He disclosed that he was given the assurance by Food for the Poor that once the region set up these things properly and they get going, as fast as Food for the Poor gets more systems, they will inform them. “It is my sincere commitment that I intend for every village must have a computer system.”
Instructor of the inaugural training, Keisha Vincent, spoke about the programme, noting that she intends to run regular training for the youths within the region as they seek to enhance and educate their knowledge of computers.
Vincent noted that there were no challenges as all three participants were eager to learn. She added that she has been motivated and encouraged to offer similar classes to other persons, as while she loves volunteering, the fact that the students were determined to get through the class and know about the computer made her work easier.
Edison Buckley, Michael Mc Donald junior, and the only female of the three, Kimberly Buckley whose aspiration in life is to become a Registered Nurse are the graduates.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
No immigrant should feel safe in America today
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- There was a time when an illegal immigrant in America could live in the shadows with some... more
If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- In the latest... more
Weekend Cartoon
