Region Three Heys participants poised for great future Get visit from Minister Allicock

Apr 17, 2019 News

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Some $1.9M was disbursed to 38 participants of the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) Programme during a visit to Essequibo Islands- West Demerara, Region Three last week Wednesday.
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, led a seven-member team to the region where participants with existing businesses under the HEYS Programme met the youth from Saxacalli and Bonasika in Caria Caria where the grant was distributed.
Testimonies were shared by the young people who noted with excitement, the positive impact the HEYS Programme has on their lives.
Caria Caria’s Karen DeNieuenkirk said, “It has been a good learning experience, I am now in a better position to operate my own little business and I know that by God’s grace, I will be successful”.
Celine Sampson, another participant from Caria Caria in thanking the Government and the Ministry from giving the youth a second chance at life noted that, “this programme has transformed my life both morally and educationally.
“There was an opportunity for one person from my community to train as a Health Worker. I embraced the challenge and the HEYS Programme helped me tremendously both financially and in the academic area. I will be graduating on April 11, 2019.”
“This programme has allowed me to discover hidden talents that I am now using. My life has changed and I have a business up and running.
“My moral life and academic life have improved and I am confident that things are better with me now than before. I will be happy if this programme can come back where more young people can have a chance to improve their lives,” said Crystal Decamp.
She too is a participant form Caria Caria.
The HEYS Programme also caters to the needs of the differently-abled in society. Courtley Jones, a youth from Saxacalli, with assistance from his sister, Candida Allicock, noted, “He started his business with a small number of chickens and now he has 43 laying birds and he would like to improve his business.
“I would like to thank the Government for what they have done and will continue to do for the youths.”
“To all participants, you are blessed; we all are blessed. This HEYS programme has done and means so much to me.
It would not benefit me alone but I trust that it will benefit my children. It has changed my life; it helped me so I want to encourage you to never give up. I want to say thanks to the Government and to the Minister,” said an overjoyed Glen Harris, a participant from Bonasika.
Minister Sydney Allicock said he is extremely pleased with the commitment demonstrated by the youth who have embraced the HEYS Programme and positive outcomes are being realized.
“What I can see and what I can hear, you are poised for a great future ahead. The mere fact that you have said these things for yourself is very encouraging.
“Mr. Courtley Jones, your story from the chickens and eggs is very refreshing. It means that you are passionate. Many people might think that when you are differently-abled that you can’t help yourself. Here is a very, very good example of what could happen as long as you are focused and dedicated.”
The Minister added, “I am extremely impressed with the number of young women taking up the challenge. I think there are only five or six men and the rest are women who are leading in this which is a very, very good sign. I would like to ask the young men to take an example of what the young women are doing.”
The Minister said right across the world, women are playing an integral role in development. “We want the young men to become responsible young men to take up these challenges that will be beneficial to you.”
Courtley Jones took the opportunity to capitalize on the marketing opportunity. He sold 14 trays of eggs to those attending the meeting including Minister Allicock who bought four trays to take back to the city.
Leaders from the respective villages encouraged the youth to thrive towards building on this opportunity which one leader described as “transformative”.
In the recent past, the HEYS initiative was deemed no more a “Programme but an Irreversible Movement”.
The programme, which was introduced in 2015, is the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs flagship youth programme one that has transformed the lives of close to 4,000 youths across the hinterland.
The programme is one that was part of a ten-point plan for Hinterland development by David Granger during his address at the opening of the National Toshaos Council Conference in 2015.
To date, the “Movement” has brought tremendous benefits to young people. Already plans are being formulated to have a third cohort rolled out before the end on 2019.

 

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