Lessons for world of work

Roughly 40 constituents of St. James North between the ages of between 17 - 35 years old will have the priceless opportunity during the next 10 weeks to hone their skills for the world of work during the Clarkson Foundation Inc.’s Life and Work Skills Programme being held at the Weston Community Centre, St. James.

The weekly series of classes will occur every Saturday morning until the end of November, and will consist of various teaching sessions focusing on developing the students’ self-esteem, confidence, team building skills, and improving their self-resolve to better adapt to the current work environment.

Chairman of the Clarkson Foundation Inc., Mrs. Beverly Smith-Hinkson spoke briefly on her organisation’s aim and the purpose behind the skills programme.

“In 2013 we started this programme; the idea was to advance our communities, relieve any poverty or suffering, create educational opportunities with skills training, and provide technical and financial assistance in the community. We believe in our young people, and in their abilities to change communities. We want to make sure you see the value in a programme such as this. The programme will allow you to grow as young adults and give you the skills that are required to function.”

Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson, was pleased to see the turnout for the third annual instalment of this skills programme. He also reminded participants that the lessons they will learn in this programme will also be taught on a wider scale in the recently announced National Youth Corps Initiative.

“On a bigger scale, we the policy makers realise that we have to give you young people and others throughout Barbados this kind of opportunity. We’re going to make you more employable and productive, with the Defense Force ultimately overseeing it [Youth Civil Corps] with other ministries including my ministry; the Ministry of Home Affairs.

We’re going to teach you discipline; discipline is core because if you don’t have discipline it will be difficult for you to succeed in life. We have to take young persons off the blocks and give the opportunities.”

The programme facilitators will be Mrs. Rhonda Bryan-Hutson, Mr. Errol Griffith and Mr. Roger Husbands with the expectation that Graduands of the series of courses will be better versed in entrepreneurship and other business ventures.