Positive VIBES

For the next six weeks, 40 men from throughout the constituency of St James North will be focused on becoming employable.

They will be attending the second instalment of The Clarkson Foundation Inc., ‘VIBES’ Life Skills Programme, the brain-child of Beverly Smith-Hinkson, wife of Member of Parliament Edmund Hinkson.

Conducted by the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE), the men ages 17 to 45 years – who are either unemployed or underemployed – will be provided with certain life skills to assist them as they seek to obtain and sustain employment or start their own businesses.

During the opening ceremony, held at Sion Hill Community Centre, St James yesterday, Mrs Hinkson told participants that VIBES – which stands for Visionary, Inspirational, Brilliant, Employable and Successful – aims at allowing them to fulfil their potential.

She recalled that of the 34 persons who actively participated in the inaugural VIBES programme in 2015, intended for both males and females, 27 of them graduated having attended more than 50 per cent of the sessions.

“The certification gained from the programme enabled participants from the first group to find employment, start their own businesses or they were able to improve their existing businesses,” she revealed.

The St James North MP urged the men to make use of the opportunity.

“This will be worth your while,” Hinkson assured.

“I am proud as your Member of Parliament to have this type of programme. I believe it is my duty as a politician to look after young people, the elderly and persons with disabilities. But, young people are key because the cost of not looking after you is going to be greater than the cost of looking after you.”

NISE on board
CEO of NISE, Kim Tudor, lauded the work of Mr and Mrs Hinkson through The Clarkson Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation.

She said that NISE is once again delighted to assist with the very important initiative.

“I am really pleased to be here for a programme that I know can help young men in particular, to go forward in whatever they want to do…My heart’s desire is to see all young men working for themselves or gainfully employed. I do not think you can live independent, productive lives if you do not have a job,” she expressed.

Tudor also assured participants that the sessions will not be boring, highlighting: “You will go visit businesses and you will interact with several men who had the same start as you and today they are employing people; they are very successful. And that will be your story in a couple years”.
(TL)