HEYS programme provides economic boost for Wakapou Village

Jul 23, 2017 News

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Dan Richards and Shanna Boyan have ventured into economically viable areas of local production. Dan and Shanna are among the success stories coming out from Government’s thriving youth initiative the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) Programme.
Twenty young people from Wakapou village were given the opportunity to participate in the programme to establish their own businesses.
Dan, 22, said that it was always his passion to establish his own business and with the introduction of the HEYS programme he was able to realize this dream.
On a recent visit to the village the young entrepreneur revealed to the Ministry’s Communications Department that after receiving the first payment of his stipend he spent the entire amount on several cement molds as well as a sling of cement.
He said despite the cost he was determined to make his dream of producing cement blocks a reality.
He said at his first attempt at block making, he was able to produce 100 blocks. To date he is producing more than enough to supply to the newly constructed wing of the only secondary school –the Wakapou Secondary School— located in his village.
This would be the first time that a local contractor has been able to purchase cement blocks from a skilled member of that village.
What is also remarkable is the manner in which he markets his business. From humble beginnings, Dan with the support of his parents and younger siblings was able to transform their humble home into a work of art.
While some block makers will have their work displayed in different areas of their work space, Dan chose to display his work on his newly constructed home. Staff of the Ministry were overwhelmed to witness his clever business maneuvers which gave customers the perfect picture of what their end product would look like.
Dan constructed their two flat home – the bottom flat made from blocks he produced (plain and designed) and the top half completed from dressed lumber.
He has given the Ministry’s staff the full assurance that on a subsequent visit, his home will be completed, painted and fully furnished.
When asked why that particular marketing strategy was effected, an easy going Dan said his personality and aptitude outweighs his block making skill which allowed him to remain grounded and a successful entrepreneur.
He adds that he takes pride and joy in what he does owing to the fact that it provides for his family whom he credits to his success.
His mother and father are both religions leaders (pastors) in the village. Dan is hoping that other participants, who were given a second chance at improving their living standards, grasp this opportunity with both hands.
Fellow youth and villager, Shanna Boyan, has ventured into Coconut oil and Casareep production. According to the young mother, she has already begun reaping benefits from her hard work.
Boyan said when she first started her small business, she would produce litre bottles of fresh coconut oil and cassava casareep. When the team visited, the level of production had increased significantly to more than five gallons of freshly made coconut oil per week. The same can be said for the casareep production.

She has been receiving assistance from her parents and her father in particular who has put his creative indigenous skills on full display. He has built a coconut and cassava grater for his daughter thus making her work easier.
Her dad, Matthias Boyan, is now in the process of making another grater and frame since according to him, this will further ease the hassle of having to clean the lone grater before use. He added that the process is very time consuming and having two engines operating, the work will become lighter as two persons will be able to work simultaneously.
The family has already acquired a new grater paying $30,000 for a part of the design of the teeth setting alone, while works on the frame will begin shortly.
Speaking to her marketing strategy employed, Boyan welcomed the support she is receiving from her villagers. A regular customer is Adels Resort located at the mouth of the Akawini Creek, approximately a half hour boat ride from the village and through the winding Wakapou savannahs.
The family through this initiative was able to acquire several acres of land from the village council as coconut and cassava estates. Currently they are dependent on villagers to meet their coconut and cassava demands.
The senior Boyan said while they have already planted a number of young coconuts plants and cassava sticks, more land is required to meet the growing demand.
Shannon anticipates that in the next five years, with the help of her family, she will be able to construct a simple yet unique factory that can supply the market demand in Region Two as well as other Regions.
Toshao of the village Errol Williams pointed out that support for such initiatives are key and the village council and villages will be giving the youth their fully support towards maintaining these lucrative business ventures.
The indigenous village of Wakapou which is located approximately an hour from Charity passes through the cascading Wakapou Creek then through the winding savannah. It is home to more than 300 inhabitants.
It boasts a Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools, a Community Health Outpost, a church, several well established shops and a beautiful landscape.

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